I've been a regular at Grill House Cafe ever since a friend (who shall remain shamed--Farzad the Great--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 read more

Grill House Cafe - Beef Koobediah - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

Overall, I enjoyed the food here: I had the eggplant dip to start and the salmon kebab plate. The salmon 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. read more

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I'm really glad Yelp told me about this place because I don't think I would have ever found it on my own. Between my coworker and I, we got the Cucumber Dip, Falafel appetizer, Ash Reshteh Vegetable Soup and the Beef and Chicken Kabob Combo. I really enjoyed the Ash Reshteh soup. I have never had it before, but it was packed full of unique flavor that I could've eaten more than a cup of. The falafels were really good, but I was a bit disappointed by the hummus it came with since it was very bland to me. The cucumber dip was not the best for either my coworker or I. It honestly almost tasted like plain yogurt. The kabob combo would've been amazing if the meat wasn't so dry. That's the only complaint about it, but the flavor was really good. Could've just been a fluke. This place serves very authentic food with large portions, high quality ingredients and loads of flavor! read more

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We had a family event in the area and were looking for a place to eat and Grill House Cafe came up in my Google search. It looked good so we went and we were not disappointed. The restaurant is spacious and uniquely decorated and they have a really nice side patio area. They were so friendly and the customer service was excellent. We ordered Persian Tea that was delicious! Hummus (with delicious bread), pickled veggies (honestly, I would not order it again, it was a tiny serving for the price) and the beef & chicken combo plate. It was soooo good! Sooooo fresh! If you're in the area I definitely recommend you stop in and have a meal. FYI-if you pay with a credit card they add a 3.9% "customer service fee", if you pay cash you are not charged the fee. I wasn't happy about it because that's a lot when you add the tip...but the policy is clearly posted which I respected. read more

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Very nice people! The food was good and the service was impeccable. Atmosphere is fun and unique. Cute outside area for chai and hookah. Got a couple cookies on the house :) read more

Best Persian restaurant in San Diego hands down. The service is always friendly and quick. They have plenty of seating inside and there typically isn't a wait to be seated. The shallot dip (must-o-musir) is creamy and delicious. The gormeh sabzi is also really good. They had the best olivieh salad but unfortunately no longer offer it on the menu. The star of the show is definitely the beef kabob. The flavors and spices are perfect and it's juicy and cooked to perfection every time. Definitely the best Persian kabob you can get in San Diego. I also appreciate that they have NOT bought into the new tacky trend Persian restaurants seem to be doing lately where you have no choice but to get bottled water and then are charged several dollars for it without being informed. The prices are reasonable and they are always consistent. Their house blend tea is incredible. I always buy a jar of it to make at home. read more

Grill House Cafe - Kabob with bread - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

The best Persian food in SD. Quality food and great service. The owner was a gem and the waiter was super friendly. We ordered Soltani, kashle bademjun, tah dog and yummy mast moosir. Try this place and you are not going to regret it! read more

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I got Dizi from this place and had very little expectation (because I haven't found too many exceptionally well done Persian food restaurants.) However, I REALLY liked the dizi from this place. The koubideh was also great. The salad and the torshi (pickles) were amazing too. Highly recommend this place. read more

Grill House Cafe - Dizi Beef Koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been here thrice and each time found my dining experience enjoyable. Really love the rice too. Very clean and the staff is friendly and always helpful. read more

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We have been missing the Grill House Cafe every week since its closing in October - such delicious Persian food, fragrant Persian tea, and friendly staff. We haven't found another place that is as good as Grill House Cafe. Thanks for the great food and great service over the years - happy retirement Mansour! read more

Overall, the food was great and most dishes are a good value. Only taking one star off for the service. Most likely just understaffed, but it took a while for anyone to bring us a menu, then it took so long for the food to come out that we had to go ask, and we never got drink refills. I got the Barg which decent. Not as good a value as at Greek Corner Cafe in Carmel Mountain, and it wasn't the best steak I've ever had, but it was properly cooked and perfectly acceptable. Looking around at what other customer's ordered, it seems like the chicken/beef kabob plates are a much better value. We also ordered the Dizi which was pretty good and far more unique. Someone was kind enough to show us how to enjoy it "properly" which was a nice touch. The building is nice with plenty of seating. Parking can be a little rough though, as it's a very busy shopping center ever time we've been in the area. Didn't try any deserts this time, though it was very tempting. Might be back to try other dishes but it will be a while. Hopefully they can staff up soon! read more

Grill House Cafe - Barg - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered delivery. Arrived cold. Rice was a generous portion but lacked flavor. Ordered a chicken kabob and was given a few junks of chicken. Gyro sandwiches were soggy. Gyro meat and the chicken had good flavor even though they were cold. Unlikely to order again. read more

Grill House Cafe - Ordered a chicken kabob sandwich. This is what I got - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here twice and I'll definitely be back. The environment is so relaxing, customer service is A-1, and the food is delicious. They are expanding to add hookah and the experience is so good. I've never had a Persian hookah experience but it's one I want again. Everything is good. read more

Grill House Cafe - Hookah - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ok. It was BOMB. Ordered the combo (chicken +beef) and it was perfect in size and flavor. Juicy. Add some sumac and boom. Loved the salad and its amazing dressing too. read more

Grill House Cafe - Combo. (Chicken and Beef skewer) - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

Possibly the best Persian food in San Diego county. Friendly staff, good food and doesn't break the bank. I recommend. read more

I have been eating Persian food my entire life, and after reading some of the reviews I thought I would give this restaurant a try, despite its lackluster name. I was not impressed... The chicken was burned, the grilled tomato was completely black, and the tatziki had virtually no flavor. I think what disappointed me the most was the fact that there was an upcharge for practically everything, however they did not deliver on the additional ingredients. For example, the Zereshk Polo was not truly rice mixed with barberries. Instead, for $4 extra they put a spoon of barberries in the corner of the dish. Also, they charged an extra $4 for a Greek side salad, instead of the garden side salad that comes with the dish. However, the upcharged Greek salad was IDENTICAL to the garden salad that I ordered with the other dish. Essentially, they took an extra $4 from a customer during a time when people are looking for value... The baklava was the coup de gras for me, because it was the size of a 50 cent piece, yet was six times the price. The bottom line is that we all understand the increased operating costs for restaurants right now, but to overcharge customers and not deliver on the portions nor ingredients is simply bad business... Khoda-hafez Grill House, because we will NOT be coming back! read more

I feel like I'm at a hidden oasis eating here. Came in for the first time on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. Restaurant has nice open spaces tables, beautiful art walls, tvs, mini store and waiter was welcoming. Love the large selection of menus already on the table for easy view it was so hard for me to choose. Lamb plate was so delicious with great portion size. Definitely my top Persian cuisine read more

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It was our first time trying this restaurant, and it exceeded our expectations! The servers were incredibly friendly, attending to each table with a smile. The food was not only delicious but also bursting with flavor. read more

Grill House Cafe - Crispy rice, Tahdig with Two Stews - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Incredible service, staff is always friendly and very respectful of the timing in which they bring out the food as well as the bill. Food is always fresh and healthy every time we come, my favorites have been either the kebabs or the lamb shank. Such a peaceful place to dine and have fresh quality food. read more

Grill House Cafe - Chicken and beef combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is a hidden gem! Mediterranean food is one of my favorite types of food to eat, and this place hit the spot The restaurant is clean and the people that work there are friendly. I got my food fast and everything I ordered was excellent I ended up going with the combo kebab. And I ordered a side of hummus, which was great! I also enjoy the fact that they put pictures of the food on their menu. read more

Real hidden gem of a place. Did dinner with family here tonight. Great and attentive service done. The food was pretty amazing. The chicken was nice and moist and the beef was delicious. Everything consumed here was done well. Surprisingly spacious restaurant space. The area is a bit of a industrial area which sort of throws one for a loop because you would not expect to find a restaurant here. But it's definitely a gem of an eatery. read more

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Doesn't look like much when you see if from outside but this restaurant was delicious, great service, and nice ambiance. Beef koobideh was the best dish of the night- tender, juicy, flavorful. Chicken kabob was also tender and juicy and the fresh lemon on top was the perfect touch. Perfect amount of food for our party too. Persian ice cream was also amazing- rose/pistachio flavor with chunks of cream. Came with a group of 5 on a Friday night and was disappointed to only see a few other people in the restaurant. This place deserves more business! Will be returning in the future! read more

Grill House Cafe - Family style - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

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After reading Yelp reviews, I decided to give this place a try. I love Persian/Mediterranean food. Ordered the eggplant dip, beef shish kebabs entree, cornish hen entree, and a lamb skewer. The flavor was mediocre, could use more spices. They gave a lot of basmati rice in comparison to the meat. read more

Grill House Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

05-Sep-2020 Today we got for some errands after a few more weeks of being isolated. 26 weeks so far, but who's counting? After shopping in on Miramar road we decided to have Persian food. We have been here a few times, so decided to leave a review. We absolutely love the food and they have always provided the best customer service! Everything is clean and Covid-19 compliant. There are only 7 tables, but we didn't have a wait and the owner served us. We started out with a garden salad and then we chose our entree. Dessert was unique, fresh and sweet and the tea was extra hot. Overall, if you are looking for some great Persian food the Grill House Cafe is definitely a spot you should try. Thanks, Ashley & Lindsey read more

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I was recommended this place because I heard it great things. I got the combination plate which contained chicken and beef kabob with rice. Food tasted great but not how everyone made it seem. Would I come back here? Yes I would. Price was not bad and service was great. Restaurant was clean and not dirty. Only thing was there was only 1 waiter working the whole restaurant so If we needed something it took a little longer than usual. Other than that great overall experience read more

We had a nice dinner tonight with cucumber yogurt dip appetizer with lavash and a couple kabob entrees. I chose the basmati rice with sour cherries which was quite tasty. Everything was fresh and the staff was on too of things and professional. read more

Grill House Cafe - 24. Beef Kabob and lamb kabob - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fantastic little place tucked away in a strip mall off mira mesa blvd. Really open spacious, lovely decor. Food is so flavorful with lots of vegetarian options. Lots of regulars here. My friend loves the pomegranate stew and tea and she eats here weekly. I had a kidney beans stew and a savory yogurt drink that was so yum. read more

Food was delicious people were very kind and welcoming authentic place Definitely recommend read more

The food is delicious. Freshly made with the best ingredients. The server was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. He took great care of the guests at our table and made excellent recommendations. The ambiance is welcoming. The decor was nice and the restaurant is spacious and clean. read more

Looking for a great Perisan restaurant in San Diego! Must go here! The service is excellent, so friendly and family owned. Food is wow! I am Persian and grew up with homemade Persian food, and this place is amazing! My husband and son got the beef koobedieh and they loved it! So juicy and flavorful! I got the Walnut chicken stew "fesijoon" and it was delicious! It's really hard to find a good one as many places make it too oily. This was fantastic! Prices are what they should be with what you get, so didn't seem too steap. Had a great time and will be back for sure! read more

Would have never found this if it wasn't for Google but glad I did. The food was great and service was good for our large group!

Service was excellent. Super clean Pretty decor Chicken kabob cooked perfectly! Hummus was sooo good it was fresh & had olive oil around it. Sooo sooo sooo good. Pita bread was also fresh but as you can tell I'm all about the hummus. Shirazi salad, was my first time ever trying it so didn't know what to expect. Was good, I added more lemon, olive oil & salt & pepper. I like that they have lemon juice & olive oil on all the tables. I will definitely be back to try more on the menu. Was my first time trying Persian food, there were a lot of things in the menu the looked amazing was hard to chose. read more

Grill House Cafe - Hummus & pita - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I do love Persian food and this place is really good but little pricey for sure. It used to be a lot cheaper, but I guess everything's gone up in price. Service is OK ambience is really nice with the ancient Persian artifacts. I would recommend at least once. read more

Great food. Great service. Would definitely come back again. The owner came by and checked to make sure everything was satisfactory. It definitely has the family owned feel and taste! read more

Love this place! I come every time I'm I town. The food is fresh, well made, tasty. My mom doesn't normally get a drink because it makes her too full but she loves their homemade dough. She even got another to go with her leftovers. We always start with their eggplant dish and a kabob plate. The salad is always fresh and crispy with a light tasty dressing. However the kebabs elevate this place to my top kebab meal. I always love beef koobideh and rarely care for the solid chunks of meat. I've never in my entire life would order a chicken kebab because they are ALWAYS on the dry side and not well seasoned. The leftover chicken kebab warmed up in the microwave is still better than any other chicken kebab I've ever eaten. That's how good it is here. I always get the beef and chicken plate here. The people in this restaurant are sooo nice too. Lovely place to come and have a great meal. read more

Grill House Cafe is my go to restaurant for amazingly delicious Persian food. My favorite is Fesenjoon. I make it a point to visit this restaurant on my San Diego visits. The food is consistently great. The restaurant is very open and has lots of seating. The service is excellent, very friendly and attentive to guests. The owner is super friendly and remembers me even though I only come 1-2 times a year when I'm in town. A very special place for superior Persian food! read more

This is a hidden gem!!! Their food is amazing and the service was wonderful. My son who loves great good could not stop talking abouthow much he loved there food!! If you haven't been, it's a must try!! You will be glad you did!! read more

My sister and I were craving some Mediterranean food and we decided to pick some up from here, and we were not disappointed! We did not expect these big portion sizes - we got way more rice and meats than we thought we would for the price. Most importantly, the food was delicious! We'll definitely be back again when that craving hits. read more

Grill House Cafe - Gyro plate, shirazi salad, hummus, and beef & chicken combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered zereshk polo ba morgh and ghormeh sabzi and neither was what it should be. Zereshk polo was chicken kabob with added zereshk, and ghormeh sabzi had too much spinach (tasted like aloo spinach stew), too little meat and the meat it had was cut too small, and it was salty. Positive point was that neither the stew nor the rice weren't oily at all. I didn't want jooje kabob, but the jooje was good tasting and juicy. I mentioned the positives for being fait, but overall I will not get food from this place again. read more

Delicious food and good customer service thank you!!!! We will come back soon!! Socially kabab and chicken combos so good!! read more