Extraordinary! I can't believe I hadn't discovered this place sooner. It's a hidden gem tucked away in an industrial park in San Marcos (plenty of parking too), and the food is absolutely exquisite. I ordered a family platter for pickup and everything was fantastic. The chicken kabobs were incredibly flavorful and tender, the grilled onions and tomatoes were a perfect addition, and the gyro meat was outstanding. The platter also came with a fresh salad. My only small disappointment was that it didn't include pita bread, which I typically associate with gyro meat. That said, it may have been something I simply overlooked on the menu... perhaps it can be ordered as a side? The restaurant itself appears quite elegant with plenty of seating, and it was clearly popular, as there was a steady flow of patrons dining in while I picked up my order. The staff were professional and personable. I will absolutely be back! read more

A hidden gem for great authentic Persian food! Absolutely love their kabob plate and it's a good portion of food and always consistently taste great. They also have beer and wine, really good traditional and authentic Iranian food and desserts. I've been here with family at least a dozen times and it's always so good! Usually not very crowded either which is nice. read more

See all

I am not sure why this place got such great reviews. The food sounded pretty good on the menu but was not as good as it sounded. A couple of things stood out as negatives: - It took a REALLY long time for our food to arrive and our check at the end took forever to get also. - I got a vegetarian eggplant stew and it only had 2 small spears of eggplant in it. The rest of it was lentils and sauce. It should not have been called eggplant stew. It would be more aptly named lentil stew with 2 pieces of eggplant. The sauce was okay. The 2 pieces of eggplant were very tasty. The strangest part is that the dish came with a HEAPING portion of Basmati Rice. I mean heaping! There was at least 3 cups of rice if not 4 on the plate. So the whole meal was a small portion of eggplant and lentils and 3 cups of plain Basmati Rice. Extremely disappointing. My friend had a stew also but her's was more tasty and consisted of a pomegranite based thick sauce and chicken pieces. Her sauce was tasty and the chicken was tender but again - small portion with a huge portion of rice. In my humble opinion they could serve 1 cup of rice with some veggies on the side along with the stew and it would be much better. Prices didn't seem bad until we got the meal and realized that most of the meal was Basmati rice. I did like that it was not noisy inside and we could hear each other talk. I probably won't return as the food was just okay. read more

Lunch and dinner is good here. Lunch or dinner plate its always been good. Service is prompt. Hummus and warm pita here is my favorite. Seating and table cleaned. read more

This place is really delicious and consistent with what you receive. My friends ordered the gyro plate, a kabob koobideh plate and I got a Greek salad. Portions are really large, definitely large enough to share. My salad was yummy with lots of feta but I thought it could have used more toppings. Service is friendly and attentive. The restaurant is always clean. It does tend to be a bit warm inside the few times I've been but not a huge deal. We will be back! read more

See all

I had lunch here today with my daughter for a late Mother's Day lunch, and the food was fabulous. We started out with a snack plate that had hummus, olives, and something like tzatziki with pita bread and it was really really good. We even took containers of hummus home with us after we were done. I had the chicken kebab with rice and salad and she had a beef kebab lunch with rice and salad as well and everything was tasty. We had so much food we had to take food home. The person that waited on us was extremely nice and was very attentive. We will be back!! this was a great experience read more

Aria is one of the BEST restaurants in San Marcos. Authentic, huge portions, their own parking lot, great service, amazing quality. Highly recommend the faloodeh! It's my fav ice cream ever!! read more

Aria Restaurant - gyro plate ( i think) - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

This was a nice Persian restaurant. The workers were friendly and attentive. I enjoyed my meal. The koobideh was delicious! You will love their desserts if you like the taste of rose water. There are multiple stalls in the bathroom. read more

See all

I ordered the combo beef Kubide and chicken $24.99 plus a side of grilled veggies $5.00+ a soda $+ The kubide was short and thinner. The chicken were small and few pieces. The veggies were barely grilled for few under grilled veggies costs me $5+ The price went up but the portion became smaller. That is when I stop going back to places like this. The plate I received and paid for is no where near the pictures posted on Yelp by others portion-wise and not what it was like before. I'm so disappointed and dissatisfied. Total cost of food for one person $45 tip included. I don't mind spending $ if I know I will be satisfied. I don't think I will ever come back and I do not recommend. read more

Aria Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

I always enjoy going to Arias....I don't eat meat, usually, I get a falafel and fries. It has always been good. They have some nice sauces, good hummus and I usually get a side of cucumbers. ..service is always good....servers will answer any questions and are very helpful. The restaurant, itself is very nice...they have lots of seating available ..I often recommend this restaurant to my friends. read more

Seriously the best koobideh I ever had it had the perfect salt level and was oozing fatty juices all over when cutting it into pieces. The marinated chicken was almost equally as good at the beef koobideh. I never had chicken that I enjoyed more. It was also extremely juicy and flavorful. Plates are good portion but it was so damn good I over ate and finished it! Also, I highly recommend the pistachio ice cream it didn't have the typical hint of rose water but it was creamy and not too sweet. read more

Aria Restaurant - Beef & Chicken Combo lunch - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

A beautiful people and a beautiful cuisine! Thank you for representing the delicious foods of the Persian people we love so much!

Great Persian/Mediterranean cuisine, delicious and healthy food, friendly customer service. Strongly recommended read more

Food - Adas polo was delicious with it - chicken kebab; and beef koobideh; tahdig was crunchy and had it with ghormeh sabzi! Service by Mostafa was excellent! Timing was good, had shirazi salad upgrade! Finished with Hot Tea and Baklava! Happy with this place! The hot tea was delicious too! read more

See all

If you've never had Persian food before, I highly recommend starting with the Chicken and Beef Kebab Koobideh Combo Plate. Personally, I lean toward the beef a little more, but both are excellent. To me, this dish is the staple of Persian cuisine. Be sure to try the grilled tomatoes and onions as well, but honestly, that plate on its own is perfect. Pair it with a cup of hot tea and a few sugar cubes, and you've got a meal that's close to perfect. The ambiance is nothing fancy , very simple, clean, but that doesn't take away from the experience. At the end of the day, it's all about the food, and here it's served with love and care. read more

Aria Restaurant - Chicken and Beef Kebab Koobideh Combo Plate and hot tea - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

Aria is a Persian gem in the Escondido area. The chicken Koobideh is so flavorful my husband and I were fighting over the last piece. The beef is equally as delicious and SO tender. The rice is a nice complement but I did miss the grilled onion, tomato and basil Ive had with Koobideh at other spots. Not a big deal, but I would recommend splitting a side and entree to get some variation. The staff was friendly, and the decor is classic but very nice- clean and spacious. Almost looks like a converted Marie Calendars. Last-dessert! Do not leave without trying the Saffron ice cream! Its going to make your day! read more

A hidden gem in San Marcos for sure. When you walk in, it smells like a Persian restaurant. My boyfriend and I took my mom here yesterday for her birthday and everything was wonderful. From the food to the service. 10/10. We will we back soon! read more

My family and I (husband & 2 kids) as well as a friend, were staying at the Lakehouse resort not far from this restaurant! We stopped in on a Tuesday evening & LOVED IT. Food was delicious, staff was super friendly! Quiet and chill environment for the evening. It was such a great/filling dinner! Definitely recommend if you're in the area! read more

Aria Restaurant - Never seen this beer before, decided to try it & it was delicious! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

We love coming here. Nice, bright ambience... friendly staff. Food is always consistently perfect, meat is always tender, juicy and flavorful. Rice is perfectly cooked, and salad is always refreshing. My favorite here is the Chicken Koobideh but you can't go wrong with any kind of meat here. I have yet to try their stews! We talked to another customer the last time we were here and he ordered some kind of lamb stew and he said that he comes here all the way from LA for that. Now, THAT is a must try! I just need to find out what the dish is called read more

See all

We had a amazing lunch as always delicious food supper friendly employees drink in very cold glass so recommend read more

Aria Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Aria restaurant is amazing,the food is wonderful , delicious and fresh , one of the best koobedih in town The hospitality is excellent, the clean and quiet atmosphere Highly recommended read more

Perfect everything. Awesome Food quality,very friend staff. Excellent environment I liked everything

There was a buffet branch for the Mother's Day yesterday and I love it! The food were good, kabob was juicy, hummus and tzatziki sauce were the best and baklava was delicious! Anna the waitress is so nice! read more

Aria Restaurant - Buffet brunch food - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

Great spot for Mediterranean food if you are in the area. Friendly staff and easy parking. Location is convenient being just off the freeway,easy in,easy out. Food was great and ambiance was cozy. Drop by if you are nearby! read more

See all

We arrived at 8 (about an before closing. Aria was still doing a thriving take-out business, but we had most of the dining room to ourselves given the late hour. Service was great and the menu was extensive without being overwhelming. We got a couple of the stews, the beef koobideh and a gyro sandwich. It was all great. The hummus was especially tasty and the rice was perfectly cooked (as one might expect from a Persian restaurant). All of our dinners were less than $20 and the service was great. read more

Food was Excellent! Fresh & good portions. The atmosphere was quiet & clean. The waitress was polite and attentive. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Aria Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

I have been eyeing this place on Yelp for some time now so when my husband and I were thinking of where to go out to dinner while our kitchen was being remodeled and I couldn't cook- this was the top of the list. I've seen it right off the 78 and we found it easily. Parking was a breeze. We were greeted immediately and were seated at a table in the back. We started with an appetizer that had hummus, a yogurt dip and some olives. The hummus was amazing and the olives were so tasty. We def made sure we left some of everything for our main dishes. I had a shish kabob and a chicken kabob plate and my husband had gyro. Everything was amazing that we had and the service was great as well. I'm sure we will be returning. read more

See all

Authentic Persian food - not easy to find in the San Diego area. We were so happy to find Aria knows how to get it done!! The food is amazing, service is also great. Portions are generous and it feels like home cooking from your Persian family. We also noticed many regulars in there who complimented the food. Love Aria - really recommend this restaurant highly to anyone looking for a good Persian meal. read more

I love Aria because they have huge portions and delicious kebabs. The service here is attentive and friendly. You never need a reservation because they have plenty of seating throughout the restaurant. The ambiance is relaxing and the outdoor fountain is a nice touch. The art on the walls is beautiful and the interior is cozy. I usually order the chicken and beef kebab combo! It comes with a lot of rice, grilled tomato, and a side salad. The salad is a generic house salad and okay. The chicken kebab is the best I've ever had. It's tender, juicy, and filled with flavor! The beef kebab is delicious and has a strong flavor that can be overpowering my itself. I like to order the hummus to dip in the kebabs. The hummus is fresh, creamy, and some of the best hummus I've had. If you like Mediterranean food, please give Aria a chance! They have a variety of delicious foods packed with intense flavors. I'll be back soon. read more

Aria Restaurant - Beef & Chicken Combo Dinner - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

We were driving by, and it looked pretty nice, never tried Persian cuisine, but it is quite similar to Mediterranean food I believe. It's a quiet sit-down restaurant, and the waiter helped us out along the way. But the food? Outstanding! The chicken was juicy, rice was so delicious, and the bread was awesome! Definitely will come again, if you are visiting near San Marcos, give this place a try! read more

Aria Restaurant - Chicken skewer with extra rice. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

I ordered baghali polo with lamb shank, and it was the worst baghali polo I've ever had - the rice was hard and undercooked. The lamb shank itself was good and flavorful. After that, I ordered traditional Persian ice cream, which came in a small bowl - it was overpriced and had way too much rosewater. read more

Went in right before closing because I was unaware of the closing hours and the host still allowed my large family and I to dine in and the server did an excellent job and kept a great attitude on top of that the food was amazing. read more

I can't believe I've never written a review yet! We've been coming here for years and it's one of our absolute favorite places! Their chicken kebabs are my favorite of ANY place I've ever tried. Always so tender, juicy and flavorful. Their hummus and warm pita is also my favorite of any place. I could eat there every day and not get sick of it. read more

Aria Restaurant - Hummus, warm pita, and salad (that comes with any of their plates) :) - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Everytime I dine here I walk out happy and my friends thank me to bring them to great ambiance٫ good food and friendly service. Parham the owner and server Ramon always go above and beyond to keep the customers happy. read more

I've been here many times with my family and it has never disappointed. Their Persian food is by far the best in San Diego. Staff is always super friendly too. And the restaurant is clean and decor is modern and gives a good relaxing atmosphere. Can't wait to go back for the koobideh kabob plate! read more

Aria Restaurant - Beef Koobideh Kabob Dinner - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Marcos, California

Excellent experience overall--great food, great service, and everything was absolutely delicious. The Persian tea was a standout and a perfect way to end the meal. Highly recommend this place!!! read more

I've wanted to try Aria for a while now and finally my husband and I decided to try something new for date night. We went on a Tuesday afternoon. It was quiet when we entered. The lady at the front was very friendly and seated us right away. Soon after it began to get busy and I can see why. The food is delicious! I had never had Persian food so I decided to have the Tahdig as my main dish. It was so good!! Packed with so much flavor and texture! My husband ordered the Dizi (he loves lamb) and he absolutely loved this dish. When his meal was brought out to him, the waitress offered to show him how to prepare and eat it which was so helpful for someone who has never had Persian food before. Before we finished out food, we were already discussing what we were going to get the next time we return. For dessert we had the Persian Ice cream and Zoolbiah. Wow wow wo is what I have to say. So much flavor, texture, I honestly don't know how to describe it. Do yourself a favor and try it out yourself. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

One of the best Persian Restaurants for an authentic Persian food experience!!! I enjoyed their beef Sultani last time. This time I got the chicken sultani. Must mosir, the shallot dip is a great appetizer. Salad is always crisp and delicious. The Shams Beer is great too. Baghlava coupled with Persian black tea is a must for desert. The restaurant is quiet enough to allow family discussions at the table. Leslie waited on our table both times. She is pleasant, polite, and accurate with taking orders. Love it all!!! Recommend this restaurant to people who want to experience wholesome food. read more

I have eaten at Aria several times now. I am very impressed with their kabobs, saffron rice and side dishes. The restaurant is large, clean and well staffed with kind waiters. I'll be going back soon, but wanted y'all to know this is a great restaurant! read more

The best Mediterranean food in San Diego! Friendly staff! All around just an awesome experience! read more