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    Bandar Restaurant

    3.7 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Bandar Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    BANDAR RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Bandar Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ellie N.

    I love Bandar and Persian food in general. It's a staple for Persian cuisine and a must visit whenever family is in town. It's been around since I moved to San Diego, and it's still my favorite spot for Middle Eastern and Persian food, even with so many options in the area. The service has been great every time I've visited and huge portions. They've even upgraded and remodeled since the last time I was there, which was a nice surprise.

    Chicken Soltani (Chicken & Beef Combination) - 5 stars. Feeds 2-3 easily.
    Daniel C.

    Bandar is a sleek, modern-looking restaurant right next to the Horton Plaza Parking Garage. The cuisine is Persian, with an emphasis on grilled kabobs. If the restaurant staff won't warn you, I will. Portions are absolutely huge, and a single entree feeds 2-3 adults easily. We over-ordered and got an appetizer and two entrees for 2 adults and our 4-yo son. Quality-wise, the food is top notch. The World Famous Chicken is grilled to perfection and super juicy, despite its large size. Light on the burned portions too. They must have marinated for a while. The side of rice is more like a mountain, and there's like 2 roasted tomatoes. The Solani is essentially the same chicken dish but with a Beef Koobideh kabob added. Also super juicy and I loved how the seasoning is just right. Some places go a bit overboard but Bandar manages the saltiness to the right level. They give free flatbread that goes well with their eggplant appetizer. Otherwise, its best to stick with just one entree for there people so you can make room for apps and dessert. They validate parking in the Horton Plaza for $12.

    Tadik appetizer
    Elisabeth P.

    We had dinner here with a friend who had never had Persian food and wanted us to introduce him to it. The restaurant is intimate, beautifully decorated, and lovely relaxing lighting. Our server was prompt and responsive but seemed busy and in a hurry. We ordered classic hummus for the noon, and appetizer of tadik with vegetarian samples of the three stews, and koobideh subbed with zereshk polo. The koobideh and zereshk polo was delicious as was the fesenjan. I make tadik and all three of the stews at home taught by a Persian family i was close to when younger. The tadik wasn't as crispy and flavorful as I'm used to and same with the ghormeh sabzi and gheimeh. But as I said the fesanjan was perfection as was the kebab. Pistachio ice cream we got at the end was a tad floral but rich and delicious still. Overall a pretty good spot if you can't have home cooking!

    Menu

    Food and service were great. Had the world famous chicken and the lamb shank. Both were delicious. I regret not trying the lamb chops.

    Jordache R.

    Automatic 20 percent surcharge I'll never go to this horrible spot what kind of spot can't pay their servers a livable wage yet they do this and think it's actually going to the servers and not the actual restaurant.

    Group Appetizer
    Kinty L.

    Great food, service, and a really quiet and lovely restaurant. The servers were friendly and attentive. Food was great portion, well cooked, and clean. Highly recommend the pomegranate stew and their beef and chicken.

    Shirley F.

    The chicken is the best in San Diego at the Bandar restaurant. The owner was there and greeted us with a smile. We're definitely giving her five stars. You can sit in the bar and have a drink of your choice before you start your dinner. We got the family style chicken, rice, and hummus. The ambience is beautiful

    Hummus platter
    Jana N.

    I've had the pleasure of eating food from Bandar on a few other locations, mostly catered. This time we ate in the restaurant for an office dinner and this review is based on this visit. This was a great choice for this dinner since it is conveniently located for us and they were able to accommodate a party of 13. The space is very classy and upscale with servers wearing full suits, however felt that the diners were dressed more on the casual side. Upon entry we were greeted at the door and service throughout our meal was excellent. The food here is quite delicious with an emphasis on the meats, not to mention the huge portions! Everyone had to take the leftovers to go and it would likely provide 2+ meals which makes the price rather decent. The most ordered dish was the Chicken Soltani (chicken & beef combo) and I can see why it's called "world famous chicken" - tender and great flavor. The yellow and white rice is also my favorite. We also ordered the hummus platter to share which was a perfect appetizer for a large group. We ended with baklava and pistachio ice cream to add to the overall excellent experience. I'm sure we will be back and/or ordering more catering.

    Ace A.

    I was quite famished when we went to eat at Bandar's and we really liked it! The place was quite clean and welcoming, their food was fantastic and flavorful! Our waitress was quite lively and friendly & made our experience delightful. I personally had the salad and the Soltani and it was quite tender & yummy! The rest of my crew were also delighted with their orders. The Owner Bruce came up and asked if everything was good, and we couldnt have been happier. The owner is very friendly and courteous. I look forward to tasting more of their cuisine and will definitely be back with more friends!

    Beef Soltani

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    Ridiculously expensive Hides tiny meals in mountains of rice AND deceptively added 20% to the outrageous bill...I will never return

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    Bandar Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bandar Restaurant

    Is the food halal?

    Yes, our entire menu is Halal

    Is this a belly dancing part of entertainment restaurant?

    It is not, yet great family Persian dinner.

    Are there Vegan options?

    Yes

    How much garlic in the dishes? Over one clove & upset stomach

    I love garlic but like the other yelper there's not really overwhelming garlic flavor I noticed at all. Persian food doesn't really ever taste garlicky to me so you should be good especially if you get one of the grilled meats with rice option like… Read more

    View All 6 Questions

    Grill House Cafe

    Grill House Cafe

    4.5(631 reviews)
    12.7 mi
    $$

    Overall, I enjoyed the food here: I had the eggplant dip to start and the salmon kebab plate. The…read moresalmon was excellent and extremely tender. However, I also ordered the bottled carbonated doogh (a yogurt drink) and was given a bottle that said best by January 2025 even though I ate here May 6, 2025. I did ask for the bottle to be taken off my tab and the elderly gentleman who was serving us agreed, but also said "for yogurt this doesn't matter." I realize that best by dates and expiration dates are differently, but I expect a bit more from a restaurant. I personally would hesitate to return. I also found the TV blaring to be a little distracting.

    I've been a regular at Grill House Cafe ever since a friend (who shall remain shamed--Farzad the…read moreGreat--for keeping it a secret for so long) finally introduced me to this incredible spot. While I used to come weekly, I now make the trip monthly since moving--and it's absolutely worth every mile. The star of the menu for me is the beef koobideh--juicy, perfectly seasoned, and consistently delicious. The quality of the food here is excellent across the board, and the flavors have made me a genuine fan of Persian cuisine, which I didn't grow up with but now count among my favorites thanks to this place. The service is always warm and attentive, adding to the welcoming, casual atmosphere. As a small but appreciated touch, the NHL Network is often playing on the TVs--something that makes the experience even more enjoyable for hockey fans like myself. Grill House Cafe is one of those rare finds that combines authenticity, great value, and friendly service. I now eat here more than the friend who introduced me to this fantastic restaurant. Highly recommended

    Photos
    Grill House Cafe - 1 of 5 party platters with beef kabob

    1 of 5 party platters with beef kabob

    Grill House Cafe - In-store fresh made bread

    In-store fresh made bread

    Grill House Cafe - Salad

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    Salad

    Shiraz Persian Cuisine

    Shiraz Persian Cuisine

    4.2(254 reviews)
    19.9 mi
    $$
    Discounts available
    Free parking

    Shiraz Persian Cuisine has been one of my long-time go-to spots in Rancho Bernardo, mostly for…read moretakeout, and it's overdue for a review. The owners are genuinely friendly and the food has been consistently solid for years. A highlight for me is the rice -- fragrant basmati with saffron and a golden, crispy tahdig-style layer that adds a really satisfying texture alongside the fluffy rice underneath. I've only dined in a couple of times, but it's worth it if you can. The restaurant feels warm and inviting, with lots of table seating and a cozy, traditional feel, made even better by the welcoming service. We started with Zeyton Parvardeh and Mirza Ghasemi, and both were tangy and packed with flavor. My usual entree favorites are Ghormeh Sabzi and Fesenjoon, and both have that comforting, well-made "slow-cooked" feel. The kabob combo with chicken and koobideh is also a reliable order: flavorful, well-seasoned, and a great match with the rice. All presented as sharable. If you're looking for dependable Persian comfort food in the area, Shiraz is absolutely worth a visit (or a takeout run).

    Only tried the koobideh kebab which was good. Cook and flavour was great. Just one skewer by itself…read morewas $10. A skewer of chicken kebab just by itself was $17!! North Park Produce Grill gives the same for 7! And it's delicious! Overall this place is quite expensive. And it has always been. Maybe it might be worth it for a nice dine in dinner but it is cost prohibitive for take out or a casual dinner.

    Photos
    Shiraz Persian Cuisine - Chicken Kabab & Special rice

    Chicken Kabab & Special rice

    Shiraz Persian Cuisine - Lam Shang &zereshk polo

    Lam Shang &zereshk polo

    Shiraz Persian Cuisine - Halim

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    Halim

    Sadaf - Persian babaghanoush

    Sadaf

    4.0(616 reviews)
    0.0 miGaslamp
    $$

    The food was wonderfully delicious. We went at an 'off' time, 3pm, for a late lunch, so we were the…read moreonly customers. The service was great -- and by the owner! Our only concern/warning is that when the check came the prices didn't match what was on the menu. (Only a couple dollars more, but transparency matters.) When we inquired about the discrepancy the owner said it was due to an additional credit card charge. We then asked why it wasn't disclosed on the menu, and she claimed it was not legally required of her. NOT TRUE! Per Google: "In California, recent legislation mandates that any mandatory fees, including credit card surcharges, must be clearly displayed at checkout. This means that if a restaurant charges an extra fee for credit card payments, it must inform customers upfront." We would certainly go back for the food, I would just check the menu for the disclosure first.

    I ordered from DoorDash and was very disappointed. I had been craving Persian food, and…read moreunfortunately, this did not satisfy that craving at all. I ordered the beef soltani with zereshk polo for $38.36, tahdig with gheymeh for $15.60, and a small side of shallot dip for $2.08. The DoorDash menu is misleading. They should really indicate the portion sizes in ounces. The "small" was more like a sample size, about the size of a condiment container and maybe two bites at most. The flavor was not even good, so I am glad I did not order a larger portion. Overall, the food was very average. Nothing really stood out to me. Since I did order on DoorDash, I will say it was packaged nicely, however they did not provide utensils or sumac.

    Photos
    Sadaf - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Sadaf - Rice that comes with Eggplant Stew Ghiemeh Bademjan with Meat

    Rice that comes with Eggplant Stew Ghiemeh Bademjan with Meat

    Sadaf

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    Khyber Pass Zarparan - Cover photo

    Khyber Pass Zarparan

    4.4(968 reviews)
    2.3 miHillcrest
    $$

    Incredible restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest! So hearty and flavorful - absolutely adored…read moreeverything we ordered: - mantu: topped with ground meat, these were so savory and delicious - aushak: bright flavor profile from the leeks made it a perfect pairing for the yogurt dill sauce - aush: comfort food soup with noodles! - the chicken and beef were spiced + charbroiled to perfection. too good with the upgraded raisin carrot rice. accompanied with heart and a spicy pepper. the service was amazing. absolutely above and beyond. the dining room featured high ceilings and unique art. can't wait to return.

    I was planning a lunch date with a dear friend today, and she mentioned she'd never tried Afghan…read morefood. Since we were going to be in Hillcrest, we chose Khyber Pass - and wow, what an incredible decision. This was easily some of the best food I've had in a very long time. We started with the Bolani. Absolute perfection. It had a beautiful crunch, perfectly seasoned filling, and none of that sogginess I often run into with Bolani elsewhere. We could've ordered another plate and been thrilled. Next came the Aushak with ground beef: one of my all-time favorite Afghan dishes. Think of it like delicate leek-filled ravioli topped with savory meat and tangy yogurt. It hit all the right notes. We also shared the Kofta Kabob, served with grilled vegetables and fluffy basmati rice. The seasoning was spot on, and the meat was juicy and tender, similar to Persian koobideh, but truly memorable in its own way. Our server recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao (Cherry Curry) with chicken. Yes, cherries! Sweet, sour, rich, bright. I had to resist the urge to literally lick my plate clean. And then: the Qabuli Palao with lamb. I do not like lamb. My friend loves it, so I agreed...and I'm so glad I did. I genuinely loved this dish. The saffron-coriander rice with carrots and raisins was aromatic and comforting, and the lamb was tender and flavorful. If you're hesitant about lamb, trust me, this dish might convert you. Portions were generous, we came hungry, and still left with leftovers. I also ordered the house-made Doogh, a mint yogurt drink. It's not for everyone, but it's pure comfort to me. We finished with hot tea infused with cardamom, black for me, green for my friend, and it was the perfect close to a perfect meal. I told our server that this food was even more delicious than what my mother makes. I'm Afghan born and raised in San Diego. That is not a compliment I give lightly. I believe the restaurant is under newer management since around 2020/2021. I last ate here in 2015, and even back when it was on Convoy in the late '90s, and this is the best it has ever been. I highly, highly recommend Khyber Pass to anyone: adventurous eaters, first-timers, comfort-food seekers, well everyone. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'm saving room for dessert.

    Photos
    Khyber Pass Zarparan
    Khyber Pass Zarparan
    Khyber Pass Zarparan

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    Bandar Restaurant - persian - Updated May 2026

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