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

We wish there was more than 5 Stars. The food, service, and ambiance was all amazing. Some of the…read morebest Iranian food I have ever had-- so much flavor and the meat was so juicy -- can't wait to come again.

I had an absolutely amazing experience at Cafe Naderi, and a huge part of that was thanks to Sara…read more From the moment we walked in, she made us feel genuinely welcomed with her warm smile, positive energy and incredibly respectful. Always anticipating what we needed before we even had to ask. If you're going to Cafe Naderi, ask for Sara, you'll understand exactly what excellent service looks like.

I'm so glad we tried this place today. The food is very good. The staff (I think they were the…read moreowners) were warm and welcoming. They made sure we had everything we needed, and patiently explained the food to us. We ordered our food with half salad and half rice for no additional charge. My mom had the lamb kebabs, which were fork-tender, popping with flavor. They were the best lamb kebabs I've ever had. I had the gheymeh stew. The flavor was less exciting (still good), but the eggplant and beef melted in my mouth. Our rice was topped with a pinkish crispy cracker that tasted like rice. Maybe it was a variation of tahdig. The salad was fresh and came with a nice dressing. We also had some of the house-made yogurt, which was hearty and refreshing. The space was well-lit and the open door kept it well ventilated. Videos of rural Persian cooking played on the TV. The walls were tastefully decorated with maps and photographs giving visitors a taste of Persian culture and history. If we didn't arrive at a lull in foot traffic, the noise might have been overwhelming for my mother, who is sensitive. Overall, we had a great experience and I will definitely be back!

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

This place is definitely a must try! We came here on a Saturday afternoon and just like one of the…read morereviews mentioned, there was no one in there, which got us a little skeptical, but! The beef koobideh... oh man. Where to start?! it falls off when you pick it up. 10/10 Tendernism. The hummus was definitely homemade 9/10, just needs a lil more salt which is not a hard fix. The owner was very attentive and made sure to help pack our left overs. 10/10 The place was clean, and quiet. We were able to talk and enjoy our food. Don't let the location fool you, the food is a must try.

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

We had a wonderful experience hosting a large family gathering at this Persian restaurant. The food…read morewas exceptional, beautifully prepared, and full of authentic flavor. The live music and evening belly dance performances created an elegant and vibrant atmosphere that made the night especially memorable. A special thank you to Esmeralda for her attentive and gracious service, and to Maddi for coordinating our large party so seamlessly and making everyone feel genuinely welcomed. The hospitality, ambiance, and overall experience were truly outstanding. We look forward to returning soon.

I just went to Hatam restaurant with my son. The last time I ate here was about 7 years ago. I…read moredon't know why it took me so long to go back but boy I am glad that I went. I got the soltani beef koobideh and chicken barg. I am an Iranian and I have eaten a lot of Persian food but by far this was the most delicious food I have eaten in years. The beef and chicken was so juicy and delicious. I met Farahnaz there and I a gentleman that I believe to be the owners. They were most gracious and kind to me and my son. At the end of our meal, they brought us tea to drink. I would highly recommend this wonderful place. I cannot wait to go back!

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.