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    Kabab Express

    4.6 (480 reviews)

    Kabab Express Photos

    Business Info

    KABAB EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Kabab Express

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    Reviews With Photos

    18. Beef & lamb Gyros Plate
    Paul M.

    Our first visit was so enjoyable that my wife and I were really excited to return to this Mediterranean restaurant. We were greeted by a very friendly guy behind the counter, which reminded us of how friendly the staff was on our first visit. He was also patient and helpful, as I asked a lot of questions. My wife got the Gyros Plate, just like last time. I opted for the Chicken Koobideh. I'm not sure why, since I like the Gyro so much. Maybe it was that the Koobideh was promoted as their most popular item. After ordering, we sat down to wait for our meals. We waited, and waited, and waited some more. It took way too long to get our food, particularly considering ours was the only order they were working on. The food finally came, and there was plenty of it. I tried to remember to take a photo, but I was so hungry by this time that I forgot. Upon first bite, I realized I had made a mistake. My Chicken Koobideh was not bad, it just wasn't that good. It lacked flavor and was a little mushy. I have had Koobideh at other restaurants that had a better, firmer texture. I decided that the Tzatziki sauce on my wife's Gyro might be good on my Koobideh - maybe give it a little more flavor. So, I looked around to find the nice guy we ordered from. He was nowhere to be found. In fact, no employees were in the dining room, or evident in the kitchen, the entire time we were eating. No one checked up on us to see if we were enjoying our meals. This was very unfortunate, and I left disappointed. So, why the four stars? Because my wife's Gyro Plate was great. She enjoyed every bite, and I will definitely know what to order next time.

    Family Special #2
    Lauren R.

    Just moved here from Thousand Oaks and very familiar with this cuisine. Granted, I don't think I ever pick places that have the potential of being sub par, but my overall feeling so far is the customer service just seems higher than average in (many places) in Orange County, and this was no exception - friendly and welcoming. Food was excellent quality and taste. I found the value to be decent. Got a 2 person platter. Kebabs were very tasty, fresh, rice was so fluffy, taboon (I think that is what it's called, like grilled pita) bread was yummy, chewy and lightly charred as they make it fresh. Comes with salad, and you are more than full. My big mouth and foodie self inquiring about things always leads me to buying more stuff. I wound up buying their house made toum (garlic spread) which was soooo tasty. It should be so good that your breath wards off vampires til the next day, and so it does. Thank you for your nice, kind service. I hope to be back soon to try their ash reshteh and types of rice pilaf. I would say to give them some time to make your food. The wait is not long at all, but mind you they are making everything fresh, and it's worth it.

    Lamb tongue sandwich
    Tammy L.

    We were surprised to learn of a place that was open so late in our area and decided to check it out. We arrived around 8:45 and ordered, took a number and found a table. So, people were generally nice. There was a manager (owner?) walking around to greet people and one of the two girls working the cash register was very friendly...the other was new-ish. Anyway, long story short, the food is GREAT. I got chicken + beef koobideh platter (chicken was slightly better) and hubby got the lamb tongue sandwich which he loved. We also shared a falafel platter. BIL ordered he thought was chicken but was given a steak kabab ??? Couldn't really tell as the meat was blackened but the texture was that of steak. Whatever it was, it was pretty tasty. We were given a ton of taftoon (flat bread) for our entrees. That being said, the food did take a LONG time. By the time we got out of there, it was 10:30pm. I mean, we're pretty patient people but were getting a little hungry when our food finally arrived. Except BIL's. His took another 15 minutes and when we inquired, we were told the chicken takes longer to cook??? So I want to say it was over an hour by the time we got all our food. Not sure if we'll be back - will likely stick to to-go orders but it was nice to know we have an option for late night eats that isn't a drive-thru. The place was inexplicably packed for 10pm on a Friday night, with a party of 20 people showing up for a birthday party. Check it out but make sure you have plenty of time.

    Cin-Yee S.

    Incredible food and service in an unassuming Lake Forest plaza. A must stop for me from now on every time I'm in town. Some of the best kashke badjeman I've ever had, and I eat this roasted eggplant dish at nearly every establishment I can find it. The fluffy bread and well-seasoned koobideh were absolutely delicious. Hospitality is a hallmark of the culture, and the staff here were just so welcoming and wonderful. The owner even came around to ask all the diners how everything was going, which I thought was a nice personal touch. See everyone again for some more delicious food when I'm back in SoCal.

    Beef Koobideh Sandwich
    Lara C.

    Amazing food and service! We came in around 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted and were given recommendations. I like that they helped us out and gave us details on some of the dishes! We ordered the beef and chicken koobideh combo and beef koobideh sandwich. Both were delicious and filling. I recommend coming here if you're craving Persian or Mediterranean food!

    Family menu #1
    M K.

    Food and service was great! The good came out very fast and the prices are very reasonable as well! Came here with my kids and the manager was very friendly and offered us hot tea on the house.

    56. Kalleh Pacheh (Lamb Head and Lamb feet)
    Mahshid F.

    Whenever I'm in Southern California, I can't resist the urge to drive to Lake Forest for a bite at this amazing spot! I hope this shows just how fantastic they really are!

    Victoria C.

    $75 for this is unbelievable. I couldn't even enjoy my food bc I was in disbelief of the price. And the gentleman in the front was not welcoming or helpful. I didn't understand the menu too well and not once did he budge in to ask if I needed help. Yes, I could've looked at prices before but I thought it would be average just as other establishments.

    Kabob sandwhich
    Ashley S.

    Best Persian restaurant in OC! We've tried countless Persian restaurants in the area and have finally found the best one. Definitely worth the drive from San Diego where unfortunately it has been difficult to find quality Persian food as of late. The kabob is fresh and juicy. It's cooked perfectly with all the right spices and flavor. They make their bread in house and it's delicious. The kabob sandwhich is my go to, but I've also had the olivieh salad and gormeh sabzi, which were both amazing. The inside is nice and clean with plenty of seating. They are located in a big shopping center with lots of parking available. The GM Mike is very kind and welcoming. He remembered us even though it had been a few months since our first visit. We've already taken several friends here and everyone has been impressed with the quality of the food. They get extra points for staying open so late too.

    Vanessa L.

    We were so happy to find this gem! Same owner as the Hen House (now closed). I got to have my favorite chicken koobideh today and my stomach was very happy! The owner was there today and he's super nice. Will definitely be back!!!!!!!!!!

    Marie S.

    The food here is absolutely amazing!! I started coming to this company when they were located in Irvine and named Hen House. I followed them once they moved to Lake Forest because I can't give it up. My friends and I love coming here for a late night bite. I highly recommend their tea as well!

    Falafel plate, hummus and freshly baked taftoon bread.
    Kathleen A.

    Wow! I found this place by accident, after a really long day. I came in around 9pm, place is packed! I patiently waited, as is looked like one person taking orders, serving, and bussing. Got the falafel plate, side salad, hummus, and fresh baked taftoon bread. Absolutely delicious, the bread... sigh. Falafel was crunchy outside, and tender inside. Perfect. I even have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Ambiance was lively, I think it was a big family party, happy noise. Next time I'm in OC, I'm coming back. Need to try some more dishes.

    Naan
    Gertrude H.

    Such an awesome find in the Laguna Hills area! About the same price as Luna Grill for their beef koobideh but you get twice the portion and tastes better. The naan is a must try with their garlic dip. Mike, who I believe is the owner, let us know that the garlic dip is dairy free. It is so good that I even put some on my beef. Mike was a great host. Very friendly and accommodating from the moment we ordered. He also introduced us to cardamom tea which I recommend as well. It is a nice palate cleanser and perfect for the cool weather. I am definitely coming back to try the other dishes on their menu.

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    Kabab Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kabab Express

    Is the meat halal?

    Hello ,, Sure all product we serve at our restaurant they are Halal. Thank you

    Do you have a catering menu?

    Thank you for considering us serving you and your guest . Please text me at 949-424-4227 Mike (Mehrdad)and I will text you all detail you may need to know for your Eventh and… Read more

    Do you have buffet on weekends? Hours and price if you do please? Do you have air conditioning in the dining area?

    Hello Mr Mark,, Hope all is well and thank you for the opportunity to serving you earlier. We do… Read more

    Does your hummus have garlic in it?

    Hello , Yes we use fresh garlic.

    View All 9 Questions

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    4.3(534 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    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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    Greek Bistro

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    4.8(4.3k reviews)
    2.0 mi
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    Happy hour specials
    Catering service

    "I mean we all knew the food would be good once we tired that heavenly Baba Ghanoush." "I'm not…read moreeasy to please but this Baba Ghanoush makes me so happy" are the words that left my friends' mouths. The food was to die for. I cannot express how every aspect of the food was amazing: the Baba Ghanoush, Tzatziki, Gyro Meat, Rice, etc. All just wonderful. A bit pricey, but it will either fill you up or give you amazing left overs! Then the desserts were inexplainable. Their Napoleon an ice cream pastry dessert, fluffy puff pastry layered with sweet French vanilla cream, served alongside ice cream to drape on top adorned with a sweet topping elevating the vanilla some place new, was a delight to the tongue. Then their Greek Sunday was an extreme surprise but had the table fighting. Vanilla ice cream topped with Carmel drizzle, pistachio, and othering flavors, decorated by fried pita chips dusted with cinnamon sugar. (Which I must admit reminded me so heavily of some Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Furthermore as they were leaving and the Sunday sat unfinished, I downed a fried pita chip because they were so good :P) It was such a wonderful evening here! By the way Danny was a charm! Super sweet, and almost got away with getting us all to get a dessert, and almost slipped by with getting someone to get another beer! A great energy and super patient with us. (And just since he asked, and was so sweet, I did create a Yelp account to fulfill his wish to post a review specifically on yelp and not a differing platform!) Make sure you go to the restaurant! So amazing!

    It's just the best restaurant in town! The food comes in great portions and amazing taste and…read moreimportantly texture. A great venue for a night out. Best service too, we had Erik as a waiter and he was great!!!

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    Pita Pita

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    4.2(778 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    One of the best places in the area for clean healthy food. Very convenient to get to as it…read morelocated right off the 5 freeway. You can order online ahead of time, and they have a great lunch rush from local businesses. Your order will be made, and show them your receipt when you walk in. They hand make the the pitas, & will customize your salad if you wanted to add in feta cheese & peppercinis. This is a great family owned restaurant, and you may even meet the owner while dining in! 10 stars if I could!

    I was craving Greek food for lunch and found this eatery nearby. It's located off the 5 fwy and…read moreLake Forest Dr. It's in a medium-sized shopping plaza near Cycle Gear. Plenty of parking is available in the shared lot. Upon arrival, I realized that they share space with Zach's Chicken. The space is rather large with lots of tables, both indoors and outdoors. I stepped up to the counter and no one was there. I saw a "Self Kiosk" next to the counter so I ordered from there. The experience seemed kind of impersonal to me. I ordered the lemon garlic chicken bowl with basmati rice and the 2 sides I chose were lemon garlic potatoes 2x. The total came out to $15 and some change. It took approx 10 min for my food to come out, which wasn't long at all. The smell of the garlic was very strong, and I'm pretty sure my car will smell like garlic for the rest of the week. I ordered this particular item because all of the reviews for it were very positive. The chicken was tender and it was flavorful, but it didn't knock my socks off. It only came with 5 pieces. The lemon garlic potatoes were also just average. And the basmati rice seemed more wet than it typically should be. For the amount of food, I didn't think it warranted $15. In my opinion, there are better Greek eateries in the area.

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    Kabab Express - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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