We visited Aria Kitchen with a group of friends, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We had made a reservation in advance, and everything was perfectly set up when we arrived, which made the evening seamless and stress-free. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and accommodating. They took the time to listen to our needs, checked in regularly, and made sure we were fully satisfied with both the food and the overall experience. A special shoutout to our host, AliReza, who was exceptionally warm and welcoming. He went out of his way to engage with our kids and understand their needs, which made the experience even more enjoyable for our whole family. The food quality was excellent, and the atmosphere was calm and inviting, with soft, low-volume music--perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy delicious Persian cuisine in a relaxed and peaceful setting. read more

I really liked this combo of Persian and Mexican. The lamb tacos and olive tapenade were both wonderful. read more

Aria Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Ok this would've been my 2nd time eating here after the rave review I gave BUT they literally won't answer their business phone. I had a simple question about my dinner plans with them yet they won't answer the phone. Huge turn off for a business. I'm sure you can afford to have someone answering phones. read more

Clean, well decorated interior invites you in to this spacious gem of a restaurant. They have a full bar with an extensive offering of cocktails and wine. The food here is incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. We were impressed by the generous portion sizes. We will be back!! read more

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Courtneyyyyyyyy was incredible. The 5 star is for the hospitality and service of Courtney. She was very attentive and was very very very accommodating to our toddler. Party of 9, seated in patio for birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Ordered a variety of foods, but the favorites would be the shrimp fajitas and birria tacos. The espresso martinis were great. I feel like I'd be tipsy if I drank a lot of it. The salsa for the chips was actually phenomenal. The restaurant was very clean and had good parking options. I would definitely go again. read more

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This spot in Irvine is such a gem -- the vibe is beautiful and relaxing, and the food is so good. They do this really fun Mediterranean-Mexican fusion, and everything we tried was full of flavor. We had a mix of tacos -- lamb birria, beef birria, koobideh, and fish -- and each one was seriously delicious. The grilled branzino with rice pilaf and salad was another favorite -- super tasty and also felt light and healthy. For drinks, the tamarind, lychee, and espresso martinis were all refreshing and fun -- definitely something different. We had the trio dessert platter... it was the perfect sweet ending to the night. But what really made the night extra special was the amazing service from Courtney. She was so sweet, helpful, and genuinely made us feel welcome. And the best part? She even did a little talent show for us -- it was totally unexpected and so entertaining. Can't wait to dine at Aria Kitchen again soon! read more

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Had high hopes for this place which unfortunately wasn't delivered. Friendly staff from the start and was immediately seated. Waiter was kind and took our order when we were ready. Started off great but then there was smaller details that made it less great. To start, we didn't have any utensils/napkins even after asking the bus guy to bring us some. I had to go find them from a different table. Second, the food took a little while and came out cold. Decent flavor but a bit odd. Ordered a cheese enchilada and there were carrots inside of them??? Ended up finishing our food with some leftover and our waiter was no where to be found. While we wait and look for him for the check and a box, a bus guy comes over and starts cleaning up my plate. I ask him to stop and that I needed a box. Ends up walking away and comes back 5 min later with a box. Didn't ask my wife if she also needed a box. After waiting for like 10 mins we get up and find our waiter which he then comes and charges us. That was one and only time we saw him post ordering our food. Overall, an ok experience. I likely will not be coming back. read more

We came here for lunch for a friend's birthday. Here are the pro's: Ambience/Location: 10/10 The decor is beautiful. The bar is lit granite, and very striking! The dishes are beautiful, and very reflective of Mexican/Mediterranean fusion. It's right across from a large set of corporate offices. Food:8/10 The flavors are very good. Nice, tender meat with my Filet Minion Bowl! Very flavorful basmati rice! The entire roasted Roma tomato with the salad was a bit clunky. Service: 5/10 I really wish I could rate this higher. The staff is courteous, but the service was very, very slow. It seemed very apparent that they were short staffed, but still seating tables right away. I think the majority of the issues came from the kitchen. It took over a half hour to get our food after we ordered. When we did get our food, one of our friends came out wrong. They remade it, but it again took awhile, so most of us were finished by the time it got to the table. My bowl also was missing the chimichurri, but that wasn't enough for me to send it back. We noticed several other tables having dishes taken back, so I'm sure that that was the reason it was taking so long. In the end, they gave us 50% the incorrect dish, so they made it right. I'd be willing to try this place again, but we'll definitely get there before the rush! read more

The food was good. Staff was friendly and polite when I picked up my food. Beautiful part of town and beautiful decors inside. Many business nearby came for lunch. I always wanted to try Birria tacos but they is not for me. It was all right but they were not for me. Beef was too dry for me and somehow I did not enjoy the flavor personally. Still ok. Beef Enchiladas- the red and green saunce definitely bring out the flavor. I would order again. Better eat when it's fresh though. Red sauce had a light spicy flavor and sweet and sour taste from the green sauce - balancing out the taste. Koobideh had a generous amount - big and long with plenty of cilantro butter rice and fresh salad with Tzatziki sauce. Koobidah was well marinated and moisted. It tasted good even the next day. The parking in early afternoon weekday was good but you will not find parking on the weekend! read more

Aria Kitchen - 4 Beef Birria Tacos, 2 Beef Enchiladas, Beef Koobideh Plate - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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The food was absolutely delicious. Started off with the appetizer, the bone marrow. It was amazing. Ordered the Aash e Rishta, it was amazing and the lentil soup was also very good. Service was excellent. The light music played in background filled the room with warmth and created a very beautiful ambiance. The filet mignon and ground beef skewers were full of flavor and very juicy. The tacos were also delicious. We will for sure try this place again. Perfect place for large groups. read more

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Newly minted penny bright, this shiny, spotless place is all white and all right. It took over from what began life as a Daily Grill which morphed into the late lamented Cassis. Cheerful and pleasant people work here and you will be greeted and treated like you belong there because you do. The Decor is white with punctuation points of artsy fartsy stuff on the walls and in the halls. Think Frida Kahlo in a Hajib. But it all fits and supports the theme. Aria boasts a Mexican/Persian mash up menu. Everyone on the Staff speaks Farci in order to service the loyal local community that frequents Aria. The collaboration of cultures and cuisine works well enough depending on what you order. The menu is large so study hard as there will be questions from you and or the Server. Once seated a basket of store bought chips and a mini molcajete of tame watery Salsa will appear. It's not all that bad especially if you're a compulsive chip eater and eat them mainly because you can reach them and aren't too picky about your Salsa. (Salsa has gotta be hot and chunky, which also describes an acceptable blind date). You can always sneak in a bottle of Pace if you pay the Salsage Fee. The Staff: Charming Courtney stopped by, introduced herself, and then launched into a Master Class tutorial about the entire Menu including but not limited to her particular favorites along with some appreciated "don't order this or thats". Her candid honesty was refreshing. It turns out that the lovely Courtney was also the Bar Tender and so took a powder never to return but at least she got dinner sorted out and put the order in. The Bar: Lot's of options. Eight plus signatures cocktails, Margaritaville choices as well as deep wells and a neighborhood phone book of Tequila's and Mezcals. Choose from Cocktails, Mocktails, and Rocktails all of which will end up in Courtney's capable hands. The Food: As stated, the menu is comprehensive and the options are many. The Kitchen pumps out the food in a hurry, so be prepared that you empty table with a covered with plates in short order. However, during the early shift the restaurant is understaffed. I admit I was underwhelmed with the Chips and Salsa but my enthusiasm came back to life when the main event arrived. The Lime Cilantro Salad was lovely. The salad was composed of Chopped Baby Hearts of Romaine were fresh, crisp and cold. There was a Diced ripe Avocado, Corn Nibblets, Knoblets of Feta, halved Cherry Tomatoes, brunoised Persian Cucumbers, Roasted Pepitas and a healthy ladle of Green Goddess Dressing redolent with Garlic and Herbs. This Salad was a great way to begin (or begin again post Salsa and Chips). The Salad is large enough for two...or three. So, you can bring your wife and your girlfriend. There's plenty for everyone. The Persian Roasted Lamb was offered as a Lamb Birria Taco. The Lamb was basted with a slightly spicy au jus/consume and then crammed into a Dorado (Crispy, Crunchy, Fried Red Corn Tortilla) Taco Shell. Positively delicious. Just like Courtney promised. This dish alone was a strong draw for a return trip. The Lamb Taco was served with two Enchiladas Divorciado (both Red and Green Mole), plus a cup of Refried Beans topped with Feta and let's not forget the mound of Cilantro Lime Rice. The Enchiladas were stuffed to overflowing with moist, juicy, well cooked Chicken and thankfully chunky spicy Salsa. Not a bad bite on this plate. The Grilled White Fish was flown in from Michigan and then settled into a soft steamed Tortilla with Salsa Fresca bringing with it a latent afterglow of heat. The Fish was a whisper on the dry side. The line cook responsible for Fish needs to take his/her foot off the gas. But the dish on the whole was decent. All in all, Aria, I was not sorry, ah, that I went. And as Aria is not faria from home base I may be compelled to go again and order that damn Lamb Taco to start with. read more

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Horrible service. walked in. they clearly saw us. had us standing there for over 20 min. no one bothered to greet us let alone seat use forget this place. read more

Very basic fusion Persian and Mexican food. Staff was very humble. Food was just okay (not bad though).

First, we came and they weren't busy, however service was decent, needed improving. Second, menu said garlic fries and we got regular fries. Even the owner didn't even know what his menu says and stated he served regular fries. And no one asked if we wanted ketchup with our fries until we had to ask. Food wise, beef was overcooked inside the burrito and rice was heavily seasoned. read more

Aria Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Fantastic Mexican-Persian fusion spot! The birria tacos were amazing, the ribeye tacos were very tasty, and the shish kabob plate was delicious with plenty of food. Loved the pomegranate and pear salad with chicken. Amirreza was a wonderful host, and the DJ added a great vibe. Can't wait to return! read more

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This place was beautiful to eat at. The interior design stood out and it gave a relaxing vibe. Our waitress was awesome. We got full so fast that we ended up taking the rest of the food to go. Even when the food got reheated, it still tasted just as delicious. My favorite drink was their house sangria. Their chuck and mignon plate tasted good. I only wish the vegetables weren't as watery and that the dishes weren't broken. Other than that, everything else was good enough to make me want to come back and try something new . read more

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Parking can be tricky around lunch but there is an underground structure if you don't find a spot right away. I will say even the hour time limit seems to not be too enforced, which was good since service can be hit or miss. This is the fourth time I've come to Aria. Once for dinner and thrice for lunch. Always greeted and seated quickly. I love the beautiful place settings - jokes with the manager I'd buy a couple off him. Because this is a Mediterranean and Mexican fusion, I love that you get chips and salsa at the table. I would go just for those. Hummus, branzino, lime cilantro salad are delicious. Yummy beverages and can be a kid friendly place. Definitely chat through any allergies. They were able to accommodate some of my sensitivities. read more

We visited here in a Saturday afternoon, and got seated immediately with no reservation. We arrived at about 1240pm and got water and cups. The service was subpar we waited about 10 minutes to see a server. I read online they give complimentary chips and salsa, but we never received any. I looked around and other tables all had it. We just ordered drinks and food at the same time, in case the waitress didn't come around again. t food came relatively quickly, but the drinks didn't arrive for about 15-20 mins. We ordered a Michelada, a glass of wine and a draft beer, it should never take this long. The food was pretty good, but I'd never come back due to service. We never got checked on, we never received chips and salsa, we had to flag a busser for a box. The server finally came but we already finished our meal and had been sitting and waiting for 20 minutes trying to get the check. What we ordered: - taco platter 4/5 - lamb chops 4/5 - whole branzino 3/5 limited flavor Overall, do not recommend, and definitely wouldn't come back. read more

Persian-Mexican fusion? Count us in. Manya and I picked up Alleanna from the airport tonight and made a quick stop at Aria Kitchen in Irvine--just a mile from SNA. Totally unplanned, but it turned out to be one of the best meals we've had in a while. The menu blends traditional Persian dishes with bold Mexican flavors in a way that just works. Here were our favorites: 1. Lamb Birria Tacos - Tender, flavorful, and perfectly paired with birria sauce. A fusion favorite done right. 2. Beef Soltani - The barg was incredible--juicy, tender, and grilled to perfection. A must-try for any Persian food fan. 3. Eggplant Dip - Creamy, smoky, and served with fresh warm bread. We could've had three orders of this alone. 4. Ghormeh Sabzi Burrito - An unexpected standout. Persian herb stew with crispy tahchin rice, all wrapped up burrito-style. Trust me--must order. If you're near John Wayne Airport and want something different, Aria Kitchen is a hidden gem. Already planning our next visit. Ever tried Persian-Mexican fusion? Drop your go-to spots or dishes below--I'm hooked! read more

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Ordered takeout from here through Postmates BOGO deal. Got 2 birria tacos and 2 beef enchiladas. The food took awhile to come out, even past their estimated preparation window. Regardless, the food came out piping hot and fresh. The birria tacos have good flavor. Juicy and tender pieces of beef. The seasoning was a bit strong on the cumin but still good. Enchiladas were smaller than I had expected but also good. Tender pieces of beef. The enchiladas just need to be a bit cheesier. Overall good takeout experience with Aria Kitchen. A tad pricy for the portion of the enchilada and tacos, but not bad because of the Postmates deal. read more

Aria Kitchen - Beef Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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We randomly stumbled across this spot in Irvine and WOW -- one of the best hidden gems we've found. It's a Persian and Mexican fusion restaurant (yes, you read that right) and everything we tried was amazing. We went on Taco Tuesday and got their taco flight -- eight tacos -- and they were fire. Every taco was good, but the beef birria tacos were our absolute favorite. So juicy and flavorful, we were honestly shocked at how good everything was. The vibe is super chill, the owners are super nice, and they always have fun specials like happy hour and Wine Wednesday. But seriously -- if you go, go on Taco Tuesday. It's the best day to experience it. We also tried a lychee cocktail with vodka and it was the perfect amount of sweetness -- not too sweet, not too strong. Oh, and don't even get me started on their chips and salsa -- legit some of the best salsa we've had. If you're into fusion food and want to support a small business, you HAVE to check this place out. 10/10 would go back. read more

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Taco Tuesday ! happy Hour ! Look no further ! Husband discovered this on a Tuesday waiting to pick me up and he couldn't stop raving about their tacos. I was hesitant, but brought me here last month - and I am a fan! We got the taco flight and had the chance to try all the tacos ! OMG they were all so good ! You get to pick 8 tacos for less than $40 and it's served on a lazy susan platter! It's such a great deal. Ask for their habanero or spicy salsa! That makes it perfection ! We both like flour tortilla so we got all the tacos in flour and just talking about it is getting me hungry again and I can't wait to go back. The beef koobideh, shrimp and fish tacos stood out for me. There want any that I didn't like! The ribeye was nice and tender. Their taco Tuesday is 3-cl on Tuesdays...they also have HH Sunday 2-5 and M-F 3-6 in the patio and bar. The bar is really nice. They have a great variety of cocktails and service was great! read more

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Worst Burrito in 40 years. Ordered the ribeye wet burrito for $18. It was delivered cold, so I asked them to reheat it. Surprised they returned with a new burrito. As I cut off bite by bite, I noticed there was soooo much rice and almost no meat. I'd estimate less than 1 oz of meat chopped up so fine down to the size of a rice kernel. Nothing satisfying to taste or chew. Lots of tortilla. Red wet sauce had little to no flavor. My wife had a shish kabob for $28, and it was much better but probably worth half that price. The sodas we ordered were in the smallest cups I've ever seen, like a child sippy cup. I believe the results show this is a Mediterranean restaurant that should leave out the Mexican food. read more

Aria Kitchen has a really nice, chic ambiance. The menu revolves around Persian-Mexican fusion dishes, which I did not like. The only items I enjoyed were the purely Mexican ones, such as flautas and quesadillas. read more

Amazing food, great customer service. Thank you Sara for an amazing night. Strongly recommended read more

Aria Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I had been intrigued by Aria for a while, but finally had the opportunity to try with my family last weekend. I've never seen Persian-Mexican fusion before, so I was excited to try some of the items on their menu. We decided to order the empanadas and eggplant dip as appetizers, and both were pretty good. The eggplant dip was definitely the crowd favorite; it also came with quite a bit of bread that we were able to take home as leftovers. For my main, I decided to be bold and order the gheimeh burrito since I normally love gheimeh. Unfortunately, I don't think the stew is as tasty in burrito form. Though extremely hefty, the burrito was quite dry for my liking. My family ordered some of the more strictly Persian items on the menu and all enjoyed their dishes. Overall, the meal was interesting. I'd come back to try the tacos because that's what all the other tables were ordering. The restaurant was pretty busy on a Saturday night and service was a little bit slow...still worth trying though! read more

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*HALAL FRIENDLY* Brought the whole family to give Aria Kitchen a try this time and it was 5 stars all across the board! For a Sunday evening, there was so much parking available, which was great. Even without a reservation, we were seated immediately. The interior felt expansive, yet intimate as it was not busy and the decor was very appealing in its theme. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Every single one of my family members were happy with the dish they chose. * I explicitly asked if the meat was halal (or if only specific kinds were) and was told that it is all halal. Our table ordered a large variety of dishes, each containing a variety of different assortments of meat, and each and every one of our party of 6 enjoyed their meal thoroughly. I ordered the Beef Birria Tacos and it was absolutely delicious, especially combined with beans, rice, and some lime on top! Thanks, Aria Kitchen! read more

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Mahta and her staff made planning a group lunch absolutely seamless! She was communicative, friendly and worked with our budget, changing party numbers and food preferences. I was constantly texting her to make sure things would be set for the day of, and she did not disappoint. The feedback we received from the food was just as great as the service. Who knew pomegranate could elevate guacamole? I am so glad that we had the chance to check this place out (it was raved about by my coworker). Definitely would recommend, especially if you are bookings for a large group! read more

Finally ... a delicious taco place in Irvine! It ain't no Santa Ana taco, but it's a good runner up for them rich folks living in Irvine lol Arrived at 1215pm on a Tuesday. No lines! Place is huge. Beautiful place. Parking was plentiful down the structure parking. I ordered the New Zealand tacos. It was 3 tacos. Came with some red sauce for the Birria style dip. Also had some beans and rice and radish. Honestly, the tacos were delicious. It's indeed a bit pricey - so the servings could've been better, but I truly loved the tacos. Now, if you've never had Birria tacos before, you'll end up ignoring the red sauce. But DONT DO THIS. Be sure to dip that damn lamb taco into that juicy red sauce. Without the dip, the lamb meat is dry. So with the Birria sauce, it's spectacular. Dip dip dip until it effing drips!! Also, the chips and salsa are superb. Nice crunchy chips with some awesome salsa that isn't too spicy. Just a well rounded dip. Crunch crunch. SO WHY ISNT THIS PLACE 5 stars? Because the damn service. I kid you not, it took 20 min just to get my order placed. 20 effing minutes when hardly anyone is there? Oh come on folks!! You can do better than this. Also, it took them forever to refill my water. I shouldn't have to ask to get a water refill 2x during my stay. Lastly... I had to waive someone down to get the check, and then no one bothered to pick up the check so I had to bring it up to the front. 20 freaking minutes just to pay. I mean - at that point - I bet you if I walked out, they wouldn't even notice. Like seriously - improve your service and you guys would be spectacular. Overall, delicious food, just a bit smaller on the serving size (unfortunately) and really poopie service. Oh yeah, my entree was $26 so $8.67 per taco lol (I'm an accountant so prices and numbers really resonate with me) read more

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Ambiance: There is plenty of seating indoors. The place is so chic. The service was good! Taste test: I loved the chicken. The meat was moist, flavorful, and tender. I wish there were more pieces but overall good for 2-3 people. My mom said her veggie enchiladas were just okay. The salsa was tangy and spicy. read more

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I had the best time at Aria Kitchen today! I came a little early for happy hour and Courtney made sure I was taken care of. From accommodating my request to sit in a corner table, sharing her food recommendations, and making the drinks, she was a delight to be around and so helpful too. The chicken flautas are delicious and quite a big portion. Compliments to the chef for how quickly it was made too! I asked Courtney if I could take a work meeting and she helped set up a corner of the patio with quieter music and turned on the fans (July heat is intense). It was absolutely perfect and I can't wait to come back and co-work in the future. The ambience is classy, inviting, and visually beautiful. You can tell a lot of thought went into ensuring customers had the best experience: from the food to the decor and to the service. I highly recommend Aria Kitchen and can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more

Mexican + Persian what an interesting fusion! We started with the eggplant dip as it was recommended by our server and wow it was so warm and creamy. Delicious! I got the vegan wet burrito as my entree with the plant-based meat and I was very impressed by how good it tasted! It was also huge and very filling so I had take half of it to-go which I was not mad about given the price. I also got the blackberry margarita which was STRONG but tasty. Dangerous combo. Service is so great here. They really go above and beyond to be welcoming. Served us fresh salsa and chips right away and the salsa was still warm. Great date spot for me and my hubby, super appreciate the vegan/vegetarian options, and we'll definitely be back! read more

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Wow! The food was so delicious, the portions are literally perfect! Also, the place itself it amazing, along with all the staff. Couldn't have asked for a better meal and a better night. Make sure to try their watermelon chaser and the churro dessert ! Shoutout to Alexa for taking care of us ! read more

Aria Kitchen - Churro dessert - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

If there is only one thing to highlight about a restaurant, the meals would be at the top of my list. And the food here did not disappoint. We enjoyed the following entrees: - Roasted half chicken in walnut pomegranate - Grilled fish taco & shrimp enchilada - Chicken enchilada Food aside, the staff was friendly, but slow. It took 25 minutes to get our order taken. One order got mixed up. And we had to repeatedly flag people down for water refills. Ambiance was nice except for very loud music, but to each his/her own. read more

Firstly, they need to use the AC or get some fans in there. It was uncomfortably warm. I just can't get into the flavor combination. The Persian food by itself is good. The Mexican food is good. But combined, it's just weird. My brain was very confused. I thought it was going to be a different kind of fusion, but it's literally Persian meats on a corn tortilla. The three dip platter was tasty, I'll give them that! read more

This was our first time here. The eggplant dip was great and all of our entrees were delicious. We also had the Raspberry Smash cocktail that we loved! Our server was friendly and made great recommendations. read more

The restaurant is a hidden gem ! The whole experience was fabulous.The food was amazing and delicious. Our host Courtney was great and friendly. I would recommend coming here! Best place for a girls night out/ date night/ or just a dinner. read more

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Decided to take my family who came from out of town and was pretty disappointed. Been here before and it was also pretty disappointing. It was a hot day and way too warm to even want to sit inside to enjoy a meal. We ordered appetizers which were only decent items I enjoyed. We ordered the family platter and they skimp you on the meat. Rice was more than the group needs and meat was literally just 1 type of meat. Koobideh came out and it literally smelled spoiled. I brought it to guys attention working and he literally gave me attitude! Mind you I eat Koobideh all the time and the meat was literally spoiled. On our way out no one said thank you for coming or have a nice day. Not sure if he's the owner but what a bad way to ignore and not make things right at exiting. Oh well we won't be back and it's too bad because I've tried giving them many chances. read more

Came around 6pm on a thursday, unfortunately parking was difficult. There is an underground parking structure thankfully. Very clean and pretty restaurant. As we were being seated, they were setting out some cute table lamps, so that was nice. I ended up getting the beef soltani with the mast o'mousir appetizer. They have really delicious naan bread, it was warm and well seasoned, went well with the shallot yogurt dip, and gave a free refill. It was my first time trying soltani but it was nice and tender, paired well with the chimichurri I think. Very nice. read more

Aria Kitchen - Beef soltani, with side salad and a chimichurri sauce - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Cute place in Irvine; we came for an early dinner Sunday. They were not super busy but they looked like they were short of staff. We got seated and waited for a while for our sever to come by to take our order. The staff was professional and nice. We got a ceviche, a chicken fajita and a salad to share...glad that we shared bc it's too much food and end up taking some food home. The chicken has a nice flavor with their own twist and not greasy at all. We got a cilantro lime salad and it's a good dish very refreshing. read more

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