Interesting their name has "Restaurant" but it's more of a to-go shop than a dine-in place…read more Picking up my food was an interesting experience. No one at the counter. Turns out multiple food shops occupy this location. You'll have to ring the Ring doorbell of the shop you ordered from. Likes: + Yummy food. I liked the variety of flavors and textures in my order. + Pleasant, modern ambience. . The shop will seem like it's in the middle of nowhere, but rest assured, your food is at Ste F. Non-likes: - Somewhat expensive. I don't think the cup of simple-looking lentil soup was worth $6. - Very limited seating. - Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere. I had: $6 Crushed lentil cup + $19.55 Kafta plate + tax - 1-time ChowNow discount = 24.77

I absolutely love Lebanese food even more so than my native Persian cuisine, so when I heard about…read morean authentic Lebanese spot in Irvine, I knew I had to give it a try. Before you visit, keep these things in mind: 1. This is a ghost kitchen, not a full-service restaurant. It's best for takeout and delivery. There are only a few chairs outside--just four in total. 2. Ordering is entirely self-service via a digital kiosk, with no staff on hand to assist you. 3. There are no bathrooms available anywhere on-site. Regarding the food, it was just okay-- a bit underwhelming, especially given that Lebanese cuisine is typically so flavorful. The chicken was dry, the hummus lacked depth, and the rice was bland. That said, the fattoush salad, one of my favorites, was very good, with a delicious dressing. Overall, I can't say I'd return. The prices were quite high for the portions, and the quality didn't meet my expectations. If you're looking for a quick Lebanese meal, this place is a decent option, but don't expect much more than that.

The food is amazing and the service is great. My wife asked about a drink that wasn't on the menu…read moreand they didn't have it but our server mixed it up for her. Lebanese style falafels are the best and this place nails it. I commented to my wife how beautiful the chicken had come out, the colors, little black charred corners and edges from the fire, golden reflection on the glaze. It is not cheap but worth every penny. Our server was great and we can't wait to go back. The place is so unassuming from the outside and beautiful on the inside.

This is a cozy and chic restaurant! Parking is a bit limited on the lot but you can park on the…read morestreet. The staff is friendly and interior is beautifully decorated. Started with a pomegranate margarita to drink. For entrees we got mixed shawarma and kofta kebab. Finished the meal with knafe. Pomegranate Margarita- The base is strong with a refreshing pomegranate flavor. It has just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of tartness. Mixed Shawarma- It comes with chicken and beef shawarma. Both are tender and flavorful. It comes with warm pita bread, fattoush salad, and garlic and tahini sauce. The salad offers a freshness that complements the rest of the items. The sauces are perfect on the meat. Kofta Kebab- You get ground beef kebab that is seasoned and cooked to perfection. Pairs well with basmati rice and fattoush salad. You get a tasty yoghurt sauce that ties the flavors together. Knefe- This is a delicious dessert that comes with gooey cheese on a shredded phyllo base that is nice and crunchy. Finished with a sweet honey and rosewater syrup and a sprinkle of crushes pistachios. Great experience overall!

My friends thought their meals were dry and underseasoned. Most of our food, especially the falafel…read moreand rice, were served lukewarm and didn't taste super fresh. I was hoping the leftover falafel would taste better the next day, but sadly, it didn't. Chicken and beef kabob were decent. Kinda bummed how they didn't have some sort of combo bowl. You'd have to buy extra meat if you wanted to try different meats together. The extras and sides were quite pricey, too. We also tried a variety of flatbreads. The spinach and cheese was our favorite. We liked the zataar one, and the meat with jalapenos was just ok. The thick creamy garlic sauce went well with the thin, crispy flatbreads, while the runny white sauce tasted bland and slightly bitter (unpleasant with everything, to be honest). Overall, the food is fine, but I wouldn't go again. A few tables were available inside the small, simple-looking shop, but it felt a bit awkward eating there. Staff were not very attentive, but once we got their attention, they were helpful.

A great local spot, everything made to order…read more I've been here twice and ordered the falafel bowl and tabbouleh both times. The tabbouleh is awesome - this is pretty much identical to mine so of course I would love it. The first time I came, I got the spicy falafel; The second time I got the regular. Just based on those two visits, I would recommend the regular. The spicy wasn't actually really spicy, and the patties were almost burnt. It tells you how good everything was that I still came back though. Second visit I got the regular patties and I really really enjoyed the bowl. Every ingredient is fresh and delicious, tahini is great, and there's a shaker of zataar for seasoning on the counter. Great prices, great owner, great food. Big thumbs up. Gotta try one of the fresh made flatbreads or wraps next time.

Service was exceptional! Food was fresh, tasty and a good value. Plenty of parking and lovely patio…read moreseating area!

Absolutely recommend!…read more Extremely friendly owner, and absolutely delicious food! The staff goes out of their way to make sure you have a great meal!

Love the chicken and the service. The potatoes are to die for. Also got a Mediterranean salad…read morethat was Amazing

Amazing food and service, I love the chicken wrap! Freshly made while also being fast!read more

If you're anywhere near The Chicken Shop, do yourself a favor and stop in -- this place is…read moresomething special. First off, the people. I genuinely don't think it's possible to find a friendlier, more welcoming staff. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with real smiles, real gratitude, and a level of care that's honestly rare these days. You can tell they take pride not just in their food, but in every single customer experience. Now here's what really sealed the deal for me. Not too long ago, I placed a to-go order for their half chicken with sides, but when I got home, it turned out to be one of their chicken wraps instead. And to be completely honest -- not even mad. Everything on their menu is so good that it was more of a surprise than a disappointment. Next time I came in, I casually mentioned it to Fred (the owner) while placing my order -- no complaints, no frustration, just a quick heads up. He immediately apologized, which honestly wasn't even necessary. Stuff happens, and when the food is that consistently good, it's hard to care. But here's the part that really speaks volumes: when I went to pay, Fred wouldn't let me. Insisted the meal was on the house. No hesitation. No questions. Just genuine ownership and appreciation. That kind of integrity and customer care is hard to come by. At the end of the day, this is a 5-star establishment with 10-star people behind it. The food is consistently incredible, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the experience is one you'll want to come back to again and again. I'll absolutely be returning -- not just because I know the food will hit every time, but because I know the experience will exceed expectations every single visit.

Ordered the OG Wrap and it was immensely dry. I sad I paid $16 for an underwhelming wrap because it…read morebarely had any toum and it also had no pickles inside. So ..... I was just eating fries and dry chicken. Don't know if I'd come here again. Service was whatever.

Was pretty amped for takeout from here but ultimately this was a bit of a letdown for this cuisine…read more Grabbed the chicken pita and steak platter, neither of which really was very interesting or well-flavored. The steak itself was particularly disappointing, as it really wasn't seasoned at all and felt like just some ground meat that was grilled. The dips were fine but couldn't make up for the rest of the meal

One of the best I've tried! The flavors were fresh and authentic, and the sauces made every bite…read morethe perfect combination. Definitely my new favorite spot for Lebanese food.

We ordered takeout from here from Doordash, and there was a buy one get one free deal for the bowls…read moreand wraps. The shwarma tawook bowl was a good portion for the price, but the tzatziki was spicy, which was surprising since the dish needed a palate cleanser. The shwarma wrap was average but a good size as well. There was plenty of free lot parking in the complex in front of the restaurant, and it was a good takeout Mediterranean option when we wanted to try something new in Irvine.

Our experience here was not bad, but not good either…read more I would say walking in we were greeted pretty quickly and had the menu explained to us when we asked, but it seemed that the cashier had an 'over it' vibe- not a super welcoming feeling. The food itself was tasty even without the extra sauce, however the portions seemed very small for the price at 15$ each even considering the extra meat. We got the beef and chicken shawarma and left pretty hungry still. Plenty of outdoor seating and the store was very clean. We'd probably still come back because the food was indeed tasty, but we'd probably hope for larger portions. Either that order a recommendation would be to reduce the plate size to make the food look larger?? Especially if we aren't getting the combo, I think the plate makes the food look small.

Love coming here for the food but especially the service…read more Great variety and atmosphere and we live it when Linda is there! Always with a big smile and a sweet demeanor. The whole team is great. And of course the hookah and the Arabic music. Thanks Little Arabia

My friends and I ordered Turkish Coffee to kill time before brunch next door…read more Coffee was rushed to brew and was not enjoyable because the coffee grounds were all over the coffee and didn't sit on the bottom as it'supposed to be.. They brewed a pot of coffee and threw some mouth wash sized thin paper cups you get at the dentists to help ourselves instead of serving us with their ceramic cups. I know most don't add sugar and cream to Turkish coffee, but they didn't ask if we needed that or anything at all. Service was non existence . I've been here a few times in the past for their middle eastern pastry and spinach pies. I never felt welcome there for some reason, something in that extent. (Felt like we were ignored. I remembered now that's why I stopped coming here and started to go to Forn Al Hara down the street regularly with fresher and more delicious food and better customer service.

If you know, you know and this spot is the definition of a hidden gem. I was put on by friends who…read moregrew up in the Middle East and told me this place is the real deal so of course I had to try it. Let's just say they did NOT steer me wrong. From the moment you walk in, you already see people walking out with boxes on boxes which tells you everything. This is the kind of place you come to eat and to cater. They do have plenty of seating, but during peak hours it definitely gets crowded and packed. A true sign of how loved this place is. The ambiance adds to the experience too. I especially love the Middle Eastern paintings on the walls. It gives the space a warm, cultural, and authentic feel. First off, the bread. All house made and incredibly fresh. You can taste the quality in every bite. From the dough to the toppings, everything feels intentional and authentic. The spinach pies... absolutely next level. Spinach packed generously and bursting with that bright, zesty lemon flavor, mixed with onions and olive oil. Perfectly balanced and so satisfying. Muhamara had a nice kick today. It had a medium spice level with just enough heat to keep things interesting (and honestly, I love that it varies a bit. It feels homemade every time). The cheese manaeesh is a WOW. The cheese blend they use is so good. I'm lactose sensitive and somehow never feel bloated after eating it which says a lot. And the safiha... You can literally taste the depth of the seven spices, with a hint of cinnamon that ties it all together beautifully. Everything is made to order. So yes be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes. But trust me, it's 100% worth it. Quality like this takes time. What really seals the deal is the people. The owners and staff are beyond welcoming. The kind of place where you instantly feel like family. I've become a regular, and every visit feels like coming home. Authentic, fresh, flavorful, and made with heart. Don't sleep on this spot.

Try all the manaeesh's. They have minis so you can get multiple. Their wraps are great, enough for…read more2 meals and it's only $10! Stumbled upon this place, and I didn't understand anything on the menu. The gentleman noticed I was going to just walked out, glad he asked if I had any questions. I asked what the manaeesh is, simple dish and sooo delicious!