Friends introduced me to this place for the first time tonight and I genuinely loved it. I had seen…read moresome negative reviews, which honestly surprised me. A lot of people I trust have raved about it, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. Our server, Leyla, was great. She took orders for 6 people entirely from memory without a single mistake, all while staying kind, attentive, and composed during a busy service. The food was excellent. The tahdig was crispy, and the stews were rich and homemade, easily some of the best I've had. The koobideh kabob was flavorful and cooked very well, and the chicken barg was equally good. For dessert, the faloodeh had a good balance of rose water, and the Persian ice cream was just as good. I really enjoyed everything about this place and will absolutely be back.

Nice ambiance with many families dining together one a Sunday - I enjoyed that…read more Some food was a hit and others not so much. The beef shish-kabob I recommend. Service took a hit. Inconsistent with multiple waiters approaching for the same orders then long blocks of time of no one dropping by within the vicinity when I needed something. One waitress struggled to understand or communicate well. Another waiter, male, was short, dry and aggressive-like. Drink selection is below mid-range as well. 3 stars is not bad, but there are far too many better options out there that encompass better food service value. Therefore, I will not be returning. If you're close by, this will do. But don't go out of your way to try this.

Well, I think I have a new favorite Persian kabob restaurant! It's pretty far from home, but I…read morecould easily work it into the flight path so to speak, between the Tustin REI and 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Located in a small but busy plaza, HOK is a small, potentially packed restaurant with a few tables outside. About half full mid afternoon on a Saturday, i got a table and quickly made a decision to try the combination plate with a chicken and kubideh kabob, with rice. Next time I'll branch out, but this first sample provided much pleasure and evidence that they can't do anything wrong (except be closed when I'm craving more ;) A few minutes after placing my order the warm flatbread came out with butter. Comparatively, many other Persian restaurants use Lavash sections, so I enjoyed the contrast. The neighboring table of four received their plates one at a time, so I figured the kitchen and grill were probably also fairly constricted like the lobby. Nonetheless, it didn't take long and the generous, colorful portions were a sight to behold! The first thing I noticed was how moist and tender both kabobs were. Not burnt or dry anywhere on either type. That's attributable to the elevated method of grilling, but here the chef has it down to a science. The second observation came later when I didn't feel excessively thirsty, or bloated, ir dehydrated. Some restaurants really brine the meat while marinating, but here it's another level of perfection. Good service and a reasonable price, although the menu prices might be behind current food costs. Still, it was totally worth it. I didn't have a way to keep leftovers in a safe temperature range, so I ate everything. Full, but not stuffed.

Super friendly staff and clean inside. Food: got the…read morechicken kabob, eggplant appetizer and side salad. Was amazing, fresh and authentic. So happy I found this place so I can support local family owned business.

I can confidently say that Darbari Persian Grill is my all-time favorite spot for Persian cuisine…read more Every single time I come here, it's consistently amazing. My go-to order is the chicken Cornish, and I always substitute the rice for zereshk polo. The rice is perfectly fluffy every time, and the barberries add the most delicious tang that just brings the whole dish together. It's seriously so good. They're also incredibly generous with their lavash bread, which I love because it pairs perfectly with everything. But what really makes this place special is the service. Everyone here is genuinely so kind and attentive, and I mean everyone. You're always greeted when you walk in and again when you leave, which just makes the whole experience feel so warm and welcoming. There's also an older gentleman who is always there with the biggest smile, checking in to make sure everything is perfect, and it never goes unnoticed. I also love that it's pet-friendly. The outdoor seating area with the turf is such a nice touch, and my dog absolutely loves it. Overall, this place is a 10/10 with 1000/10 service. Anytime I'm in the area, I have to stop here without fail.

Clean plates. Clear flavors…read more No excess, no confusion. Just food that knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything else. You eat, you understand, you leave satisfied.

The food is ALWAYS EXCELLENT HERE. We have been coming here…read morefor years! Celebrated many occasions as well as just because times when we are craving GREAT Persian/Mediterranean food! We bring friends and family visiting from out of state as well and they have all enjoyed it! The staff is friendly and always right on top of things. Highly recommend this place. The ambiance inside and out is very nice a d comfortable.

This place was recommended to me by not one but two people and i thought obviously i cant go wrong…read more I will preface by saying that i door dashed so i wasnt expecting it to be piping hot and thats not the reason for the 2 stars. I am actually giving them to stars because I called the restaurant and asked for them to substitute one secure of my dinner and give me a small gormeh sabzi instead which they agreed to. I have Persian food at least once or twice a month and I'm from up north, which is why I had asked people for their recommendations while I was in town. I ordered a Koobideh a maust musier and the gormeh sabzi. The dollar.maust and gormeh were ok not the best but ok. The koobideh on the other hand was HORRIBLE. Never in my life have i had a koobideh crumble when i cut into it. I really dont know if it was old or just not mixed well, but it had no flavor at all. Im so disappointed not returning.

The food was amazing and we got the amazing customer service from sara, every thing was perfect.read more

OMG. We were holding out for a proper visit, but we couldn't wait any longer and decided to finally…read moreorder to-go. From what I understand, Aria is the recent addition to the growing Persian Empire of the Super Irvine dynasty. The parents run the grocery store, the daughters run the excellent Irvine Grill restaurant, and Aria Kitchen is their latest experiment. While we didn't order any Mexican fusion food, there were some of those same flavors that really came through. The bone marrow comes with a delicious garlicky olive oil to drizzle on top. The oil has a bit of a kick to it--- chili, maybe? that evokes more of a Mexican flavor profile than an Iranian flavor profile. Some of their fresh Pita dipped in it? Life changing. We liked the kabob--- it's pretty good. However, we're spoiled by their sister restaurant, Irvine Grill. Irvine Grill still takes the crown for our favorite kabob. Aria is still a strong contender, though! The Asheh Reshteh is probably my favorite dish here (if we're talking appetizers, their bone marrow is by far one of the best apps I've had ever). It's hard to find good Asheh Reshteh, because it has to hit that balance of well-stewed but not mushy. This one was excellent. They gave us plenty of Kashk to put on top too! Where Aria shines is in its variety and consistent quality. The food is all fresh and delicious, and the flavor combo (while surprisingly not wholly uncommon----NorCal has a handful of similar Mexican-Iranian fusion spots) is so well-paired. There's a damn good reason that Samin Nosrat opted for Mexico for her show when for geopolitical reasons she was unable to film with Netflix in Iran. Both cuisines love their citrus. I can't wait to visit Aria Kitchen and dine in-restaurant!

We had a wonderful experience with Leila. We felt well taken care of throughout our meal!read more

Delayed post. Came here with coworkers to celebrate Nowruz and had a great time. It was a large…read moregroup, about 30 of us,and service was very efficient, even when it came down to the bill. Used to visit often but then pandemic happened and haven't been in that long. Persian food is one of my top 10 favorites. All the different spices and flavors. Honestly I don't recall what we ordered. There was an eggplant dip that was delicious and the freshly made bread, how is it possible I don't remember the bread being this GOOD! I would come back just for the bread alone! You cannot go wrong with anything from the menu. I'll be coming back again more often as I used to in the past

Long bookmarked on Yelp, but I didn't find myself anywhere near the area until recently to actually…read moretry the food. Located on 1st in Santa Ana near Tustin, there's a wrought iron fence around the private lot, and the restaurant is open until 9pm most nights. I was surprised nobody was dining in, and except for a woman waiting for her takeout order to be made, I was the only person for most of the visit. I quickly realized the phone rings often, so most business is ordered ahead, with the option to eat there, in the car, or take home. Clearly, for presentation and likely quantity, I recommend eating there. The host is a nice older gentleman who literally does it all, and is so good it hardly seems like he's working. My Shish kabob plate came out faster than expected, and I was almost as impressed with the salad as the saffron rice and actual kabob, which is tender and amazing by the way. Basically, you pick a drink from the refrigerator, and I let him talk me into trying hummus, and appetizer, which ultimately comes with cut flatbread. His take is less creamy than other restaurants, but the flavors are fresh, without garlic. Don't worry, the salad dressing is a fantastic creamy Italian style. All-in-all, I was enjoying every bite and pretty much ate everything, although I preserved some hummus to eat at home. The price was commiserate with the quality, and I suppose I'll try more when I'm around the area.

Food Ambiance…read more Service It was great The owner was very friendly Hi frequency Big plate

Hi, A beautiful…read moreentertainment environment for families who want to spend a few hours with their family in happiness.

I stumbled onto the Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen by accident. We were nearby to watch our…read moregrandson's performance in his first play at the Civic Center and had 2.5hrs between shows to kill. We drove around looking for a comfortable place with crystal & linen so we could feel catered to...but the surrounding eateries were just sad. Lotsa fast food and 3 star hole-in-the-walls. As we were preparing to leave Foothill Ranch we saw Caspian. It stood out...boldly. Indoor/outdoor seating, firelight accents, nice cars in the parking lot...we had to try it. Upon entry it was clear a large private event was taking place, and we fully expected to be turned away. The interior was beautiful, spacious, and appeared to have just been built. Everything looked brand-spanking new. Staff was scurrying amongst the very large party of guests, and it was clear they had recently arrived too. We were greeted with smiles and our request for seating in a quiet, out-of-the-way table was instantly granted. The 4-minute rule was honored despite the busyness of the engagement party going on in the next room and our server was warm and welcoming. We had time to kill and enjoyed some wine and appetizers, stalling placement of the food order for quite a while. Now understand, I can be a challenging customer because I have been the food service profession for decades. I can look at an item and tell you if it came from SYSCO, US Foods, Restaurant Depot, or some other popular source...and my familiarity can adversely impact my dining experiences. I tend to be critical of both the front & back of a restaurant (kitchen staff & servers) and this skepticism is magnified when I feel the need to be catered to. Yes...I'm that guy. Well during the hours we spent at Caspian, we were greeted by the owner Esie as well a manager, both who engaged us in brief conversation that was enjoyable and appreciated. Not so much that it became intrusive (like some places I've visited...once) and it was clear they were going above and beyond to make a meaningful first impression. Our server recommended a red wine that was perfect, all the appetizers and entrees were cooked properly, delicious and served like artwork. The eyes dine first so the hard look I give food when it's brought to the table, comes with expectation. Caspian did not disappoint. Something else I found exceptional about this place was the coffee. My wife and I are addicted to the stuff; both the coffee and cappuccino was so much better than the coffee we make at home we were stunned. We buy premium whole beans that we carefully mix, our Jura Capresso makes every kind of coffee drink and yet...the java served at Caspian head & shoulders above my best efforts. I am hopeful they will share the brand and source with me...I want that coffee every day!!! As you can surmise...with three people looking after us, we felt fully catered too. If you are a tough customer...if you scrutinize things like the crystal stemware, steak knife and water carried, if you know when your server is providing the ideal level of service (not stopping to check on you too often or disappearing for too long) and seek a dining experience in very elegant and comfortable surroundings, then do yourself a favor and go visit Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen on a day when you need to be treated right...very spoiled. This place has a certificate of excellence...not a commonality in the restaurant business and something the most discerning customer appreciates. You need to take an OCD approach to cleanliness and food handling to earn one of these certificates and it is clear the management and staff at Caspian treat every diner like a published food critic. That is rare. Go ahead...treat yourself...you'll return, even if it's a bit of a drive. Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen...they set the customer service bar so high...other restauranteurs need to charter a plane just to see it.

It's been a while since I had food here. They used to be located off Brookhurst and the 5 freeway…read moreand now they're off Lincoln. Food is excellent, fair priced and plenty of basmati rice. Overall a great meal. Service could be more attentive.

Hatam Restaurant is consistently amazing. The staff are super friendly and welcoming, which makes…read moreevery visit a great experience from start to finish. The food is incredibly tasty and always cooked perfectly. I love that they bring out complimentary bread with onion and butter--it's such a great touch and really sets the tone for the meal. I always order the koobideh combo, and it is always perfect--great flavor, great portions, and cooked just right every time. The ambiance at the new location is amazing, and I'm so happy they moved here. It's a huge upgrade compared to the old La Palma location and makes the dining experience even better. Highly recommend this spot if you're in Anaheim and craving excellent Persian food.

It was our first time in the area, and as a fan of Mediterranean food, I found this place on Yelp…read moreand decided to give it a try. I'm really glad we did. The portions were large, and the atmosphere was very relaxing during our visit. The server Habibi!!! was friendly and attentive. I'm usually very particular about food, but this place did not disappoint. We ordered the mixed platter for two, and it was excellent. I'm a big eater, but my wife and I still couldn't finish everything. It was so good that we packed the rest to go. Out of all the places I've tried, this one really stands out for both taste and quality. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely come back.

I really wanted to like this place, but the experience was honestly disappointing from the moment…read morewe arrived. We showed up around 1 PM, which should be prime lunch time, and the place was completely empty. Not just quiet, I mean literally no one there, which immediately felt off. Even finding the entrance was confusing, especially if it's your first time. The exterior didn't help either. It looked sun-damaged and like it hadn't been maintained in a while, which set the tone before we even walked in. Once inside, things didn't improve. A guy greeted us briefly and ran to the back, and then another staff member asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside. The first thing we noticed was how stuffy it felt. No airflow, no ventilation, and when I asked if the AC was on, he said no. At that point, it just didn't feel comfortable staying. My friend and I looked at each other like, are we really about to eat here? That feeling alone says a lot. They do have an outdoor seating setup with what looks like Persian-style lounge seating, which could actually be really nice, but even that area didn't look clean or maintained. It had potential, but it just didn't feel inviting. We ended up leaving, and shortly after, another couple walked in and chose to sit outside, probably for the same reason we didn't want to stay inside. Honestly, this place feels like it could have a good vibe if it were busy and properly maintained, but right now it just feels neglected. Between the confusing entrance, lack of upkeep, and uncomfortable indoor environment, it was an easy decision to walk out.