The chicken kebab is moist and fragrant; the chicken chunks fall apart when I bite into them, and the aromas of turmeric and parsley flood my senses. I have to close my eyes to take in all the flavors- spicy, salty, meaty. The doogh is equally delicious; I swear I've never drunk something so creamy, so minty, so refreshing -- Sandhya Menon, Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love This writer could be describing this restaurant's chicken kebab as well. It was out of this world good, one of the best I ever had. Ordered a massive amount of food for a large gathering and everybody loved everything but the chicken kebabs were gone first. Can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our take out dinner. Owner was great too, friendly service. Even ran into an IG Persian friend who I only knew from our virtual conversations. It's a small world after all. Highly recommended! read more

First time visit.. Restaurant not busy and immediately greeted upon entry. Nice atmosphere and very clean. Ordered two kabab combinations to go.. One all chicken and other chicken /beef. Was offered a tea while I waited. Wait was not long maybe 7/8 minutes which was more than reasonable. Took food home and both were excellent as was the bread provided. Both meats were tasty and juicy, rice also great. I will definitely return to this restaurant to try different options. Highly recommend this business.. read more

Later at night, when the night is winding down, and most everyone had had their dinner, you can still find great food here. It's an unassuming storefront in the nice part of El Toro road in Lake Forest. You might see sparse diners and a few locals sitting around having a late dinner. And no matter the late hour we came, we were greeted with a warm smile and superb service. We ordered a chicken koobideh. One plate; we weren't that hungry, and we got it to go. We ordered and waited outside chatting. It took then about 15 minutes to make the dish. I could see them making it fresh in the back while I was standing outside. The value is amazing. Two skewers, with rice, pickles, and garlic sauce as well as a pita was far more than I expected. The taste was on point as well. I loved the place. Next time we will sit and eat in the restaurant. Loved it! read more

This was my favorite place to get koobideh. So sad to see that it's permanently closed. But I will always remember this place!! Big fan of the chicken koobideh with the lemon, butter, and fresh bread read more

The food at this location is good but inconsistent. One of the evening, we are extremely unhappy with the service as we had to wait over 40 minutes for our food. read more

Great restaurant. Helpful owner who is available to advise you on your order. Delicious food. I shall return.

We went there for lunch on Monday and were very disappointed. The chicken kabobs were tough and hard to chew, and the rice was undercooked--we expected better quality, especially after their price increases. Keon, the waiter/host, was rude as always. He tossed the bread onto our table without a tray or plates, and we had to repeatedly ask for tea and butter, which only arrived with the meal instead of beforehand. We've complained about his attitude in the past, but since he's the owner's son, nothing ever changes. On top of that, the restaurant has a strong sewer odor as soon as you walk in. A friend who works for the city even mentioned that the place is infested with roaches in the back, which sadly wouldn't surprise me. This will definitely be my last visit. read more

The food tastes great here. I had been ordering food every week until about 6 months ago when the prices jumped outrageously by at least 60% across most of the menu that I ordered from. Appetizers are $15 minimum where you can find them for half that at most other places. $15 for Hummus? LOL. Even sides like a single koobideh are just under $17... for ONE kebab!!! Thats just GREEDY. You can order a 2 kebab combo that comes with rice, roasted tomato and bread for $25 but if you but a single kebab side is $17??? I'll pass on you ripping your customers off and just go elsewhere with reasonable prices. Chili Chutney right down the street sells Chicken Koobideh for $9 and Beef for $10. Even the overpriced Luna Grill across the street is cheaper. read more

M new go to spot for kababs! Try both the chicken and beef. Rice is amazing as well. Reasonably priced too!

Tasked with bringing lunch for the family on Christmas Eve, I was at a bit of a loss...I needed gluten-free, dairy-free, non-spicy...didn't leave many options. Kabab Express Family Meal #3 to the rescue. The meats, rice and veggies were perfectly cooked and nicely flavored. The salad was fresh and the taftoon bread a wonderful complement. The gentleman who fulfilled my order was very friendly and suggested adding the garlic sauce-so glad I did! That stuff is incredible. This was some of the best Persian food I have had, and the entire family was happy. Not to mention it fed 6 adults and 1 child, with leftovers. I definitely recommend! read more

This is one of our favorite place close to home. Mike is always pleasant and welcoming. His smile is always ready and as our hot tea every time we walk in to the restaurant. We ordered the half chicken rotisserie with Nan bread and it was excellent. The chicken was cooked perfectly and very juicy. The nan bread tasted very fresh and it's perfect with hummus and garlic spread. read more

Food and service and ambiance need to eat it you will see . Love the food and the ambience the food is always amazing need to eat Persian ice cream out of this world read more

Kabab Express - 61. Fesenjoon Stew amazing need to order - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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"Express" without sacrificing quality; this is fresh and top-level Mediterranean, best rice I've ever had, can't forget the flavor... I drive out of my way to come here and it's worth the effort; I initially decided to try it due to the fact that it's the most highly-rated Mediterranean restaurant in the area, and I've now become a loyal customer. Mike (the owner) is so warm and friendly, he's a wonderful host and even gave me Persian caramel tea on the house on my 1st visit. It was late at night but the naan bread was very fresh, as was everything else... When I told Mike how impressed I was to have such fresh bread just 30 minutes before they closed, he told me they bake it fresh with every order. The Feta Cheese & Walnut Salad was wonderful with fresh herbs and veggies and paired well with the Mixed Rice Special (a mixture of lentil, sautéed onion, raisins, dates, mixed with white Basmati rice). The seasonings of the rice were outstanding and I honestly couldn't tell you where to find anything comparable. On a subsequent visit I had the Vegetarian Eggplant Stew and while it was also seasoned and prepared very well and I have no complaints, the salad with rice are going to be my usual. read more

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First time trying this spot and well, it did not disappoint! Koobideh was well cooked, flavorful, juicy and delicious! Rice was good too. Service was pretty good, and overall a clean restaurant to hang out and eat. read more

Great Beef Koobideh fresh when ordered with naan amazing service. The menu items are made fresh when ordered & a great halal option that's open late. read more

Kabab Express - Beef Koobideh half rice half salad! - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Wow! Who knew such an amazing spot was just down the street from my house. I always thought this place was a "fast food" type place based on the name and never took the time to look, but I'm sure glad I did today! Mike is extremely generous and kind, what a great initial impression to the restaurant. The house made garlic sauce is killer. So fresh and delicious. Pairs great with the Naan and the meats. The rice is good, lightly buttered, large serving. The meats are also a generous amount, along with a side of fresh grilled veggies. The meats are lightly seasoned which I appreciated, and it brings out the meat flavor. The beef was very tender and juicy. Great spot! Will absolutely be coming back! read more

Our dinner was delicious! The authenticity of the menu from the flavorful rice to the seasoned kabab along with the ridiculously delicious flatbread was worthy of a 6th star from YELP. The owner (Saeed) was engaging and generously offered us complimentary bread to take home as he could see how much we were enjoying it. My wife and I will make Kabab Express a monthly meal... at a minimum. Todd & Mimi read more

This is the third time this happened. We ordered our food and they said that they will take 15-20 minutes to prepare the food. I showed up after 20 minutes, and an employee brought the bag and put it on their counter and they didn't call the name for the order. I waited for another 15 minutes. I asked where my order was and they said it was ready and it's the one the one on the counter. It was getting cold and it showed carelessness. read more

Kabob express has excellent food, large portions and very friendly and professional service. The food is absolutely delicious and very authentic. I have eaten here more than once, and every time they have been the nicest people, very engaged with hospitality and conscientious of every detail! They offer catering and the next time I'm having a large party. I would love to hire them. It's In a great shopping center where you can also get other errands completed. Tons of free parking. The prices were pretty average for lunch and the quality was exceptional so I think it was worth the value. read more

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We ordered the chicken koobideh, chicken koobideh wrap and chicken feshiangoo (I sure of spelling and not in the menu) the koobideh was good however the item not on the menu, don't order anything not on the menu. The chicken was hard, literally hard like left over for previous day. Service was good and staff was cordial. I would go back again for items on the menu read more

The free tea service was great! The food was good too! The service was courteous and efficient. read more

Very good! Food hot and tasty, but took a long time to get our order. Staff is nice. Owners come around to check on you.

I enjoyed the food; it was tasty, though a slightly larger portion would have been nice. The atmosphere could be a bit more welcoming and cozy. You need to order before you sit. At the end, you can enjoy traditional tea as a dessert option. read more

Once you enter mike will greet you with a smile! he's very nice and accommodating with everything! I was completely impressed with his good attitude and service. The food is great, chicken and beef is tasty and tender. everything is perfect even the sauces! i dont usually eat mediterranean but now i think this place will be my go to kebab place. read more

Kabab Express - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place is a hidden gem. The food is amazing and very reasonable for what they offer. We have been coming here for the past three years and there has never been one moment of disappointment. They have also hosted many events at our high school and have been very generous with their hospitality. If you have not tried Kabob Express, you are missing out. read more

Ordered online, stopped in, bathroom smell was atrocious, couple of the tables were dirty. Had to wait 10 mins even though I'd ordered in advance. Food came out missing my $3.99 garlic sauce (small container), overpriced for what I got. Person at the counter didn't even greet me. Food was mediocre good at best. Not sure why this place has 4.6 stars? read more

Heart broken to hear about the closing of Kabab Express. Did not have the privilege of visiting in the last few months since I moved but this was my FAVORITE Persian restaurant. Especially because of the comfort that Mike's amazing service provided. Mike was a truly amazing person. I always enjoyed chatting with him. read more

Says they're open till 2:30am. Ordered DoorDash for pickup, paid, got there and they were closed. Now I have to wait a week for my refund. Adjust your business hours read more

This place was absolutely next level.. service A+ Food A++ We tried multiple items and was literally nothing I would say to change The eggplant was my favorite, ever! The meat and chicken was cooked perfect, juicy and with the perfect amount of spices The salad... do not skip on this! We loved how they flattened the falafel! Crispy on the outside and just right in the middle Mike our sever was the perfect, in helping describe the menu and offering suggestions. The restaurant was super clean I would HiGHLY recommend this place and look forward in being back as soon as possible Oh yes, I almost forgot, the garlic spread was devine read more

Service is horrible. They do not clean the tables. We sat at a table that had dirty plates. The server walked past us 3 times then finally cleaned it. It may be a reasonable place for dine out only. read more

Kabab Express - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Think I found my new favor kebab place! We called them before they opened (around 11AM) and was trying to figure out whether they'd be open on Memorial Day or not. They didn't pick up, but that was likely because they weren't open yet. To my surprise, they actually left a voicemail saying that they were indeed open and would open at 11:15AM. When we arrived, we were looking at the menu and Mike was extremely helpful! We told him what we wanted to order (2 weekday specials with a beef kabob and a chicken one). He promptly then recommended we switch to another combo which was both cheaper and would give us both options that we wanted at a better price. He also recommended us to add on a small garlic spread. I LOVED the spread, haha. I'd eat that with ANYTHING. Mike was awesome, but the FOOD itself was great too. When it came out, Mike recommended how to eat it - to let the butter melt within the ice, take the skin off the tomato and mix everything together with some sumac to top it off. He also noticed our garlic spread was running low and gave us another one on the house! The food was perfect - the chicken was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. It was still juicy and mouthwatering. Anyways, I'm sure nothing I've said is new - try this place next time you're in the area! read more

Food is amazing. Been eating here for awhile and consistently. All through delivery since my schedule is too tight. I always get the garlic sauce and it was priced at $10 ish. Which is find because it's a decent size you get. Now I ordered it again. Paying $8. I'm thinking "oh they reduced the price" but nope. This is what I get instead... I feel like the biggest idiot! read more

Kabab Express - Garlic Dip $8... insane price. - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

It's outrageously expensive and I found a piece of metal in my sandwich. Completely grossed me out after spending $100 for a little bit of food. This place used to be good. Tonight it cost me $100 for a health hazard. read more

Kabab Express - This was literally inside my sandwich. I pulled it out of my mouth from under my teeth - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Food, service, management all amazing. My favorite kabab place in all of OC. Highly recommend!

How many times am I allowed to keep reviewing this place? I love it. Back again a 2nd time. Pro tip: get the garlic paste. It's by far the best I've ever had. Gonna take your koobideh to the next level. I'll be back. read more

Kabab Express - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came around 6:30 on Wednesday - great time to go because plenty of seating! The gentleman that helped us was extremely kind and helpful. Since it was our first time he did offer us free sodas and fresh bread. When he delivered the bread he dropped off butter and garlic sauce with it - I seriously could have just ate that it was so good. Our food was AMAZING, definitely one of the best places for Middle Eastern food. It is definitely on the pricey side, but the customer service and food were just wonderful. read more

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The food was just OK. The service was good and the wait was acceptable. This is a take-out place with tables and chairs.

The rotisserie chicken was juicy and tender. The basmati rice with the salad was good. The man in charge was very welcoming and accommodating. read more

Kabab Express - Rotisserie chicken with salad and Basmati White Rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place was next to my fav iced coffee place and I was hangry so I tried. This place was great. I ordered the beef koobideh which is saffron rice with beef kabob and packed with flavor. The rice was silky and smooth and seasoned just right. The beef was juicy and packed with flavor. It came with two halved grilled tomatoes. The plate comes with amazingly fresh naan and enough that you don't need to order extra. Next time I will order some hummus to go with it! The service was quick and a gentleman offered me some tea while I waited. Everyone was very helpful And friendly. read more

Kabab Express - 42. Beef Koobideh - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I came for the Dizi and left with a full and happy stomach. Dizi is my comfort food and I can't tell you how happy I was to find a local place that serves such a tasty one! Moms dizi will always be best, but I'm happy to know I can go pop into this local establishment for some deeply flavorful nourishment! My family all loved their kabob plates. I can't wait to bring my parents and friends here. It's got that hole in the wall feeling but with BIG flavor! The staff were friendly and welcoming. I wish nothing but great things for this place! read more

Kabab Express - 55. Dizi ordered unmashed so I could sip some broth and mash myself :) - Mediterranean Near Me - Lake Forest, California