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Hafez Cafe

4.5 (275 reviews)
ModeratePersian/Iranian
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

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HAFEZ CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Hafez Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Khoobideh kebab , Ash Reshteh, and Barley Soup.
Rosh R.

Hafez Restaurant One of the best Persian food experiences in Orange County! The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming, and they even serve complimentary chai which adds a lovely touch. We had the ash reshteh, ash jo, and koobideh kebab, everything was delicious. The freshly baked bread they make in-house is amazing. Great atmosphere and beautiful design too. Highly recommend!

Kaleh
Nastaran M.

This is the best Kaleh pache i have ever tasted in my life , i have never tasted anything like this before even in Iran. Sina was our server and he was so friendly, he made our meal more enjoyable, he is the best lemon guy

Koobideh Kebab, Ash Reshteh, and Barley Soup.
Mahmood A.

Amazing authentic Persian food with excellent quality and flavor. Their breakfast is also delicious and fresh, and you can really feel the care they put into every dish. The service is warm, friendly, and very welcoming. Great hospitality and a comfortable atmosphere. We will definitely come back again. Highly recommend trying this place!

Management is amazing
Bryan L.

I really love this restaurant. Excellent food. Fast service. Amazing location, easy to park my car. Prices are very reasonable and you get excellent quality service. The place is extremely clean.

Shell S.

We went to Hafez for dine in and the restaurant was packed. With that came slow service and a substantial wait time to get our food. We were with a group and ordered a variety of breakfast and lunch plates. Everyone was very happy with their dishes. We had Halim, eggs/cream/honey, koobideh kabob, Cornish hen, kaleh pacheh, and adasi. I had the Halim (which is my fave) and my husband had the Cornish hen that I tried as well. The hen was fantastic and one of the best I've had in a long time. The fresh baked bread is definitely the star of the show and the black tea served with the meal is a very nice touch. The negative: I don't love the atmosphere and wish all the food were served in ceramic dish-ware. The kabobs are still served in melamine/plastic plates, which is highly toxic when exposed to heat and leach into the food. I'm taking a star out for this.

Today we had sina helping us out, super kind and helpful, very good service and their kale pache was delicious, definitely recommend

Today we had sina help us out, super kind and helpful, very good and fast service, Their Kale was delicious Will come back! , definitely recommend this place.

Ordered my usual.... Unfortunately the salad was missing. Meal was still delicious.
Joy D.

I absolutely love this restaurant. I ordered my usual tonight. 1/2 Salad, 1/2 rice, extra salad dressing. The delivery service did a fantastic job delivering - the food was fresh and hot as usual. Unfortunately, the Salad and salad dressing were missing. I am so bummed. The salad is just so good. I hope next time- My order will be delivered as I ordered it.

Chicken kebab, Chicken Kobideh Beef Kobideh with grilled tomatoes
Lu T.

We stop by here today for lunch looking for good chicken kabobs and kobideh . I was reminded of went to many years ago, but we haven't stopped by in a while and I remember it was really good.. They did not disappoint. The family deal was the best and it could be served in House. They started out with some flatbread and butter, which was awesome. The chicken kabob and beef/chicken kobideh where are easily the best in the area. Very moist and juicy. It came with a salad and rice. Plenty for four people. Since we ate at the restaurant, they served some Persian tea, which was delicious. The service was awesome also. Highly recommend.

On our way home from the airport we stopped for dinner. First, the location is convenient and right off the freeway. Immediately we were served delicious hot tea. They make their own bread which is delicious and comes out hot and fresh. We had the lentil soup, two kinds of chicken kabob, and one beef kabob. We ended with baklava. Food and service were excellent. When in the area we will come again.

Kaleh and Halim with one of best persian bread  کله پاچه و حلیم نان لواش

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2 months ago

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5 days ago

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20 days ago

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Sina A.

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25 days ago

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Sina A.

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6 days ago

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25 days ago

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Sina A.

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18 days ago

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Sina A.

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24 days ago

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Sina A.

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25 days ago

Amazing food. Some of the best Persian food. The service was on point. Will definitely go back.

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Sina A.

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4 days ago

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8 months ago

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2 months ago

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21 days ago

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Sina A.

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

I'm not sure if it under new management right now. Because menu a bit different and taste different for me

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1 month ago

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25 days ago

We love the beef stew and ashreshtah! They were very good to our kids, portion are huge. Will def drive down to eat at this place again.

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Sina A.

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1 month ago

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25 days ago

Great authentic Persian food and awesome service. Staff are very nice and friendly. Highly recommended.

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Sina A.

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2 months ago

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6 months ago

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 month ago

Amazing and Wonderful Food. Amazing Service. Welcoming Atmosphere. Nothing more to be said.

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29 days ago

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Sina A.

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1 month ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 months ago

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Ali S.

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9 months ago

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7 months ago

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Sina A.

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Hafez Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Hafez Cafe

Is this place halal?

So sorry I don't know but should be!

Do you have rotisserie chicken?

Chicken Kabobs

Salam! Do you have any vegan options?

they have veggie Ghormeh sabazi and smoe side dishes!

Can someone upload a menu ? Do they have a website?

yes, they do

View All 6 Questions

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Kabab Express - Lamb Soltani with Baghali polo, Dizi, Felafel meal and Half Fried Chicken, all so yummy :P

Kabab Express

4.6(480 reviews)
1.2 mi
$$

Food is good, service was okay, speed was disappointingly slow…read more I get that these places make their food to order so I expected a wait, but they have the word "express" in their business name so I had a false expectation. Needless to say I sat there waiting for my two to-go orders for what felt like an eternity. A lot of people flowed in after me and they were all just waiting, it was weird since it was empty when I walked in and then seeing 6 tables of people with no food. I thought I ordered the cheaper lunch special of chicken koobideh and beef koobideh, but he punched in the full portion instead. I didn't really mind as it just became extra food for dinner. But I feel like if someone is going in at the beginning of lunch time, they would be looking to order lunch menu stuff? I guess I can't expect people to do what I my logic would do. The two koobidehs is pretty much the same thing I order at any of these places because I prefer ground meat that's tender and juicy and this place did not disappoint. They were cooked to perfections with just a little crisp on the meats. Not much else to say since I only had a basic meal....meals

We had it to go, so I can't speak much about the dine-in experience, but I will say the service…read morewasn't the friendliest. We ordered the combo beef and chicken plate, the beef gyro plate, and two falafel on the side. The falafel didn't look impressive, but they were surprisingly excellent--moist, flavorful, and honestly better than Sababa's. I'll definitely order six next time. The gyro plate was solid, not overly greasy or heavy, and the seasoning was just right. I wasn't a fan of the hummus, which had a bitter aftertaste, but my partner liked the tanginess, so that may come down to personal preference. On the combo plate, the chicken stood out: juicy and tender. The beef seemed to be a leaner cut and was a bit dry. I'd probably skip this particular beef kebab next time and try a different one. The saffron rice and grilled tomato were a nice complement. The plate also came with jumbo naan, served warm and smelling amazing, definitely a highlight.

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M Cafe & Grill

4.3(535 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$

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.

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See how big this dish is! My hands are small btw

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Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

4.4(743 reviews)
5.5 mi
$$
All you can eat
Live music

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.

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Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen
Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen - Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

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Bahar Restaurant - Entrance

Bahar Restaurant

4.1(591 reviews)
3.6 mi
$$
Family-owned & operated
Private events

Still such a yummy spot! I got the appetizer with the crispy rice and the three toppings. The three…read moretoppings happened to be my favorite three dishes! So I love that they have that on here I don't remember it being here about 10 years ago. I also got the stew with celery artichoke and beef. It was really nice! I love that it's lightweight. I'll probably get a fuss in June to go just because it's my favorite. I absolutely love the Persian tea! I do order it with my food which always throws people off but that's how I do it lol I've had the creepy day etc. here before so I know that's good but I'll definitely order that next time to go.

This review is for Bahar Catering: We had Bahar catering for…read morea 51st birthday at an event venue. I highly recommend Bahar catering. From the planning to the actual event, they handled everything professionally and stayed in constant contact with me prior to the event. The food quality was exceptional. They provided a beautiful set up with the coffee, tea and cookies. The food was set up beautifully and the food temperature was perfect. The server adapted and problem-solved. I really couldn't have asked for a better caterer. I was able to enjoy the party because there was nothing that was missing--everything was provided exactly as was agreed and they went above and beyond. Thank you for making our event memorable.

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Irvine Grill - (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

Irvine Grill

3.7(715 reviews)
6.2 mi
$$

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.

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Hafez Cafe - persian - Updated May 2026

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