i will like to come here to eat the real middle eastern food , it taste really good and quantity of food they give is a lot and for the price is not soo bad at all read more

First time here and came with two other people. Went here on a Thursday night around 4:30. Not crowded. The waiter let us find a seat because not many people were there. He gave us menus. I ordered combination B: shrimp & chicken, saffora rice and the cucumber tomato salad. We ordered the cucumber yogurt with pita bread for appetizers. Pita bread was warm and the cucumber yogurt was refreshing. The coffee here is good with hazelnut on the side. Food took around 10-15 mins. When our food came out, portions were big! It was a lot to indulge. One of us ordered the hummus and it was delicious! There was a lot of food and took the leftovers home. I suggest trying one of the appetizers. Everything is delicious! Ask them about their specials too. Customer service is excellent. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Combo B: saffora rice, cucumber tomato salad, shrimp and chicken kobobs - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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While in San Rafael, some colleagues found this restaurant on Yelp. Upon arriving, the gentleman who greeted us at the door was very pleasant. There were 7 of us that were dining together. The restaurant was small and there were many locals dining there and watching the basketball game, so he apologized for the wait. They put two tables together and we were seated. To start I ordered Mast-O Khiar. This is a yogurt mixed with Persian cucumber with a touch of fresh mint and salt and pepper. It came as a large serving and boy did it taste lovely! So good, I wanted to save it for later! =o) For dinner I ordered the Kababbq's salad with chicken. This salad came with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, peppers, feta cheese, Mediterranean olives, and pepperoncini. I asked for the house dressing on the side. This too was incredible! The chicken was tender and juicy which went well with the combined flavors of the feta, cucumber and olives! The one reason why Kababbq lost a star was because of the check out at the end of our meal. They were very kind and allowed us to each pay our tab separately, but when my friend went to pay her bill, the gentleman who was doing the register could not get the card to run through the machine. He quickly ran the card through the manual (old school) machine. This normally would have been no problem, but he tried to have her provide her signature with NO total. He informed her that he would put the total in later. She told him she was not conformable providing a signature with no total. The man walked away from the counter without saying a word and got on the phone. We were not sure what was happening and my friend even offered to now pay in cash to make it easier, but he ignored us and continued talking on the phone. This went on for about 5 minutes until our waiter came up and asked what was happening. He apologized profusely and told the other man to ring us up so that we could use the cash. He informed us that they had a machine and were having a hard time with the training and use of it. Overall the food was amazing and the prices decent. I certainly would return for the food. Hopefully, they will work on their check-out system to make the experience a full five stars! read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Kababbq salad with chicken. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Have some dignity when you make the food. We asked if they can seat us on a round table of 4 chairs, and he said ohhhh this table fit 6. So when our food came, it didn't fit the table because it was too small. Food: the rice is NOT Basmati, old wrinkled leaves, Kababb was so old and filled with oil to make it "juicy", the eggplant was 5/10, and the tea was Horrifying. We asked specifically if the tea is authentic, and he gave us this face as if we have offended his "authentic" food. As soon as we drank it, it was hot water with a mist of Lipton bag-tea, Each cup was for $3. We asked if they can take off the tea from our bill and the other service woman, who she was very nice did so. I would rate this restaurant as 2/10. read more

Take out was so easy to order. The gentleman at the front had great customer service. My husband is from Iran and he really liked the saffron rice and koobideh kabob. This is a huge compliment coming from him, he's very picky. So happy with the food here. We will be back read more

I have never had such amazingly juicy and flavorful kebabs before! I have had the minced beef and the lamb kebabs, and they are both amazing. The saffron rice is perfect, the greens are tart but good, the yogurt is thick and amazing, and the hummus is tasty. Also had their homemade tiramisu with rosewater in the cream for dessert. For me, it's worth the gas money and bridge fare to cross over from Richmond and eat here. Because WOW SO GOOD. I don't know what the spice is in the large shaker, the little dark red granules? But it is good on everything, too. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Beef special for lunch. This fed me all day long! Wow, so juicy. Also only $10. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I went to Kababbq yesterday for dinner after purchasing a Yelp offer that was $15 for $30 of food. As other reviews suggest, the location is not the best because you can't see the restaurant from the main road and have to drive down a narrow alley by the marina. We found parking in the back though. The restaurant is located in a strip mall next to a kids day school I believe, a cross fit gym, and a couple of evangelical churches or centers. Regardless of the strange location, I wanted to try the food. I ordered the lamb kabab with hummus and saffron rice. My fiancé ordered the shishkabob made of filet mignon with a salad and saffron rice. I thought the lamb was cooked and seasoned well and really enjoyed the hummus. However, I thought the saffron rice had no flavor and it was very disappointed. I expected to get warm fluffy naan but got cold pieces of flat bread. When we asked for more the second batch arrived stiff instead of warm. The salad was good though and I liked my fiancé's kabab better than mine. The waitress was very friendly and very attentive. I took one star off because of the sad rice and naan and a second star off because I thought it was expensive for what you get. I wouldn't expect going to a strip mall restaurant to spend $50 for two people. Thankfully I had the Yelp offer so it was fine. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Excellent food!!! Chicken barg & shrimp kebabs are all delicious and the grilled tomatoes are great! Love this place! A little hard to find but well worth it, if you like Mediterranean/Persian food definitely a hidden gem you'll be glad you took the time to find. read more

The only real Persian restaurant in Marin County is apparently tucked away in San Rafael, on E. Francisco Blvd. Based on its location alone, a small specialty shopping center adjacent to boating community, Kababbq is a diamond in the rough. The restaurant itself, while small, is not small in flavor, or freshness. Persian food is known for his preparation of delicate meats delightfully seasoned to perfection. The dish I chose was a Joojeh (Chicken) Kabob with Shirazi, and Hummus. Now, what does that all mean, exactly. Well, the Joojeh is marinated in a tangy marinade, and slow roasted. Shirazi was one of my favorite things on the plate by far, because it was packed with diced cucumbers and tomatoes with a fresh lemon, which just cleansed the palate. Hummus is self-explanatory here, but nothing beats fresh hummus with flat bread. Ultimately, the meal satisfied me to the nth degree, because of its freshness, and that fact that the plate assembled together looked too appetizing to pass up. And the best part about Persian food here, the meal was high in protein, lean in fat, with a fair amount of carbohydrates...a healthy meal for only $11. I would strongly vouch for anyone who chose to venture a night at Kababbq, because everything on the menu was hard to pass up. Maybe I should have encouraged myself to try some Persian baklava, maybe next time. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Joojeh with Shirazi and Hummus! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Got takeout last night for my family from Kababbq and it was so good! The barg, boneless chicken kabob were flavorful, not dry but also not greasy. The appetizers (eggplant, salad Shirazi and herbs/cheese) all good - mind you, I have a Persian mom and she also thought the food was very good. I rarely find takeout that travels well and is as good as this meal was. Especially given the corona virus, it was so nice to be able to have a really good meal - will definitely be ordering again very very soon. Thank you! read more

I was dying for Greek/Mediterranean food and this restaurant came up on yelp and was recommended to me by a friend. I came in earlier in the day to make a reservation take a look around. It looked like a very quaint restaurant and I made the reservation for 7 o'clock. We arrived a little bit early but our table was ready. Our waiter was a bit gruff. This is why I took off two stars. I wanted to relax after working all week and I just felt like he made me way too nervous and anxious. Since we were new here, my guy and I wanted to discuss the menu and the waiter kept trying to rush us into ordering. That made me feel very anxious. And when I had a question it seemed to bother him. Regardless I ordered chicken kebabs and my guy ordered shrimp kebabs and then we switched one kebab for one kebab. I forgot to mention the Greek salad. We ordered that first to split and it was smaller than a cereal bowl. That would be fine if it wasn't nine dollars. That Greek salad should've been about five bucks. It did taste great, however it was a little bit of a rip off. When we got our main dishes they were just absolutely phenomenal. Mine was two rows of chicken with rice and I ordered a grilled tomato with it and my guy ordered a Mediterranean salad item. but I can't remember the name of it. The chicken was absolutely succulent and the shrimp were no different! Absolutely fantastic for both! We were given a lot of rice and we left very satisfied. Except for the Greek salad, the prices were very fair. It would've been nice to get a small dish of pita points. I will come back again, but I will look for this waiter before I enter. There was a man there who brought us our bill and asked us if we wanted any more ice tea and he was super nice. I had wished upon leaving that he had been our waiter. read more

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I ordered lunch to go and when I arrived I paid for the lunch then I decided to get two sodas I paid for that as well. The Asian lady working the register threw my change on the table and said take your change. She was very rude and unprofessional. as I was leaving I asked her why she was being so rude and she replied take your change. I told her I would never go back there again and in return she said that's fine. I Would never recommend this place to anyone. She also did not give us any dressing for the salads. I spent over $50 for two entrées That came with salads and two sodas. read more

Amazing in everything. The Kobideh is from heavens. The lamb Kebob is ridiculously amazing. Make sure to top it with Sumac red spice. If you haven't tried the yogurt drink Doukh, you should give it a try. They have a great selection of sides and combinations like Sultani. Will always come back read more

I wish I could record the owner's voice when I called to let him know the food was all burnt. He extremely rude, he called me all bad words and told me this is what it is. We just tried to support their business in these days but it looks like they need more rest at home. I attached the picture of food too show everyone, if they order what they will receive. Rude attitude + bad food read more

I had the Steak Kabob which had wonderfully rare meat, slightly spicy onions and bell peppers. Quite delicious but slightly under-spiced... had to add salt :( As my 2 sides I ordered the Mast-O Khiar (yogurt with some cucumbers in it) and the hummus (which was OK if you like olive oil... very heavy on the olive oil flavor). If I come again it will most likely not order these sides. I will try the other options. The iced tea was strong & delicious. At 1:30 pm the place was practically empty. I could sit any where. They also have a nice outside seating area. read more

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I just ate the best falafel wrap that has ever entered my mouth. Yes, I'm serious about this. The ingredients were fresh, the flavors in the falafels blended together perfectly, and I just got happier at each bite. I must add that every employee we interacted with here was nice and genuine. I am already excited to return for another falafel wrap. And my partner equally enjoyed the skewer. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Best falafel ever - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

We came here after a long hike in Marin since this place has really good ratings, we were super hungry, and they had a yelp deal. It was a no brainer. I had the beef kebab plate which was delicious! The kebab was super moist and juicy. It comes with 2 sides - I picked the yogurt dip (can't remember what it's called) and rice. We also ordered some appetizers, hummus and fries. The hummus was really authentic and you can taste that it was home made. The fries were thick cut and crispy, just how I like it :) Definitely really good value for the money, especially with the yelp deal. We paid $25 for 2 people including tax and tip after subtracting $15 for the yelp deal. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Koobideh plate - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Best meat available in canal area in San Rafael. This place is definitely a bang for your buck! The meats (beef and chicken) are mouthwatering! If you're into Mediterranean food then this is a MUST place to go!!!! Special for $8.95 is well worth it. Portion will fill you up! I haven't tried the prawns but I will in due time. The service is good and attentive. It's a small place, so if you need something then you'll be seen right away. The salad with the right dressing was just right and I'm not much of a salad person. Rice is on point. The Koobideh is just on hit! Tender and juicy meat, oh my it is amazing! Burger or skewer, you just can't go wrong! If you have a burger try the garlic fries! They hit the spot! Bathroom is available and most of the time won't be occupied. If you're open minded on trying new foods and love meat then you want to come here! Tip: If you have garlic fries take a breath mint or gum because they are a little too strong! read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Special: mixed beef skewer (koobideh) for $8.95. Meat is soooo delicious! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Drove out of my way to come here because there is no Mediterranean food in Sonoma. Very friendly, attentive staff. Hearty portions - had a great chicken kebab with a delicious side salad and rice. I also loved the hummus. Plenty of leftovers and the price point is great. Yum! read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Chicken kebab with saffron rice and salad. Yum! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Been coming here for for about 4 years and I don't ever get tired, so in love with the food and the best part they have for every ones likings. I love the falafel wraps Ali's special is my favorite without the feta. The place is clean and family friendly. read more

I got my food to-go, I ordered the chicken kabob. I was surprised at the location when we got there, basically this restaurant is dockside but also very close to the freeway exit. The food at Kababbq was good but not the best ever, they did not include any fresh greens which made me sad. Everyone working was from Latin America, not a single Persian person in the place when I was there, which was odd to me. I am glad San Rafael has Persian food still offered, so many places have come and gone! read more

This place is a hidden gem in San Rafael. I've only tried koobideh, barb, and lamb kebabs, and they've all been delicious so I haven't wanted to try anything else. Family combo A is plenty food for 2 people to share: comes with 2 mixed beef kebabs called koobideh, and 2 other kebabs of your choice. Rice and/or salad, herbs and feta cheese pita platter, and roasted tomatoes. Family combo B is perfect for 4 people to share: comes with 3 mixed beef kebabs (koobideh) and 3 other kebabs of your choice. Rice and/or salad, herbs and feta cheese pita platter, and roasted tomatoes. Sides: I wish the falafels weren't too soggy and cold because it seemed to be seasoned well. Hummus is real tasty on their warm pita bread (plenty of pita given). I love the koobideh. The meat mixture is very tender and flavorful. Barb (thin filet pieces) is super soft and probably my favorite. Lamb is paired with grilled onions on the stick too and it's just as perfectly seasoned. My boyfriend likes these the most. Roasted tomatoes are sooooo juicy and such a nice complement to the grilled meats. I enjoy the light lemony dressing on the mixed baby greens for the salad, and the soft fluffy basmati rice is just right to fill you up. It's a little on the pricey side for a nice dining experience with nice cloth napkins and real utensils, but you also have a great $15 for $30 deal on Yelp that you can even purchase (on Yelp app) right before paying! Basically $15 off your meal if you spend $30 or more! read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Family combo A: from top down... rice and salad (get half/half!), 2 koobideh, 1 barb, 1 lamb, and roasted tomatoes - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

I've now sat here for 20 minutes and no one has taken my order. Seated me without a menu, waited 8 minutes then finally said to the guy "uh bud I need a menu". He got me one quickly. Waited another 10 minutes for the girl to come take my order. She's stressed out from the one 6 top and other lone diner, like myself. Yes, total of 8 of us in here and I've waited nearly 20 minutes to place an order. Let's hope the food doesn't take this long, I've had this places food before however, as I keep waiting for them to improve and they don't. Usually I only get my Persian food from my good friends up at the saffron market in Novato. Authentic Iranian grocery and food there. I hope this place will improve soon, but considering I've just waited a long time for nothing I'm not too hopeful. The girl just seems stressed trying to manage everything, maybe they are short staffed today or something but she's definitely talking too loud. I should know how frustrated she is with the kitchen or anything else that's going on. Oh it gets worse, here I am waiting again. Where's the waiter you might ask? Take a look for yourself! Yes, he is indeed on his cell phone. I had to holler to get a box and the check now I'm having to holler again to get him to come get it?! No thanks. I just walked it over to him. Ridiculous. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Love this place! Friendly people, excellent food! I always get the lamb - the seasoning is perfect. Very flavorful. Small place with a big presence in the neighborhood. It's our favorite go-to when we need to replenish ourselves. read more

We were heading to Santa Rosa from San Francisco on 101 looking for a place to eat and started to search on yelp and we were driving north and saw this place which was closing in 10 minutes so we made a quick decision and exited and made it 5 min till nine and the waitresses was kind to let us place our order. We have not tasted the good but if the reviews are correct we are going to be happy. Thanks read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

The best falafel balls I've ever had. Literally. And that's in decades of eating falafel. So, definitely the best in Marin. And the Persian eggplant dip, Kashk-e-bademjan, was amazing. Delicate and flavorful and unlike anything I've had before. I will be going back for those two menu items. I think the complaints about the service in other reviews come from prima donnas. We were there on a busy Saturday night and they weren't able to take our order right away, but were friendly and helpful when they did. And the food was ready very quickly. read more

Good food! Enjoyed the koobideh. Saffron rice was delicious. The mast-o-khiar was good. It's a bit hard to find- it's next to the karate place. Parking is more available in the back. read more

I ordered a falafel plate. That requires putting falafel on a plate with some other ingredients. I waited thirty minutes for it and the lady at the front got into arguments with 3 other people while I was in the restaurant about waiting times for their respective food. She was already arguing with people when I walked in and I should have taken notice. Don't go here. I've never posted a yelp review and this place inspired me to save you an evening. Do not go here under any circumstance. They don't understand how to run a restaurant at all. Two people who have never run a restaurant could run a better operation. The mint was old. 3 pieces of falafel and a tim of hummus. Thirty minutes, 3 pieces of falafel. A bin of hummus. read more

Kababbq Grill & Café - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Don't let the location and minimal curb appeal fool you; this is excellent food at a great price. Had brunch here on 8 April, a terrific experience. I came with a group of 7, so we ordered family-style, and were provided platters full of fresh and aromatic gustatory delights (or, more simply, a very tasty meal). Mint. Basil. Sumac. Turmeric. Lavash. Onion. Salty crumbled Feta. Koobideh. Hummus. Lamb. Yumminess. It was sufficiently enticing that I wanted to sample every single thing on the menu and then hit the reset button and do it again. It's not fancy, it's not expensive; it's fresh food, honestly and skillfully prepared, served by friendly people. And really, isn't that what you want when you go out to eat? If I didn't live hundreds of miles away, I'd be here all the time. But even though that distance separates us, I am 100% positive sure I'll be back. read more

THIS PLACE IS BOMB!!!!! Kababs are very flavorful and delicious. Saffron Rice is amazing as well.. Saffron oil is not cheap. This isn't the cheapest place in town but you ABSOLUTELY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Very filling. Need to eat here more often. BEST PERSIAN FOOD AROUND!!!! Only bummer is that the parking isn't easy. read more

The food was great as always. We tried combo A and kashke Bademjan which both were tasty with high quality. Beside food, we loved JV and we will definitely get back because of her. She was so friendly and welcoming. read more

I have only been here 3 times and each time the food and service was fantastic. I can't wait to return and bring my dad. The portions are generous and the seasonings are incredibly delicious. I am thrilled that they have options on the menu that make it perfect for KETO dieting. There are very few places an obese person can go and lose weight while eating a delicious meal, this is one of them. I was able to choose salad and a grilled tomato instead of rice or potatoes. The salad dressing is spectacular with olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon. Knowing that you can eat everything they put on your plate brings tears to my eyes. Instead of fighting traffic and never finding a place to park in the city I head for the bridge and stop off at Kababbq Grille right off of 101 on my way home where I can usually park a few feet from the front door with out any hassles at all. read more

Above average dishes. Attentive staff. The ambiance could use some TLC to make this place a great choice.

Great middle eastern kababs/kabobs. Tasty fresh condiments and specially on the lamb. Refreshing Shirazi salads. Overall a small "hole in the wall" place but with excellent food. read more

Delicious food! We had a very relaxing lunch on a very rainy day. The kebabs were delicious, and hot tea kept us warm. Staff are friendly and kind. We'll definitely be back! read more

Good food. We went for the first time and everything tasted very good. It's a mom and pop, nothing fancy.

All I gotta say is OO! OO! YUMMY IVE GOT LOVE IN MY TUMMY! :) so good the rice needs a little more saffron but the tahdig oh muh gawd so good and everything is just so zamn good and yes I wrote zamn intentionally read more

If you want to have an absolutely wonderful experience and delicious dinner, do this: Drive to Kababbq Grille & Cafe in San Rafael behind City Carpets and order the following: Appetizer: Kashk-e-bademjan (puréed eggplant appetizer) Entree: "Combo A": Koobideh (ground sirloin) and Lamb Kabobs. Two complements: Saffron rice, and grilled tomato. When asked what you would like to drink, order the tea. The meat was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The saffron rice is amazing (why can't I get my rice to be perfect like that?). The portions are very generous (enough to bring some home and enjoy the next day). The staff are very friendly, and helpful when ordering if you're not sure what to order. The entire experience was positive and easy. I am adding this to my regular rotation of restaurants. An absolute gem to have here in San Rafael. read more

I've been coming to kababbq since they first opened. I love Persian food and was a regular customer of the previous Persian restaurant in this location. However, today's visit was less than satisfactory. My order of the koobideh was just fine, but my order of the ghormeh sabzi contained probably only 1 oz of meat. There were six little tiny pieces of meat in a pint of ghormeh sabzi. For $16, one would expect at least 4 oz of meat. There was more liquid than there usually is so the total amount of actual food was much much less than it has been in the past. read more

Food is fine, but extremely disappointing catering service. We ordered via their Catering menu for our son's first birthday party: a chicken dish that was tasty, but an order of approximately 50 falafel that unfortunately were dry. We called several weeks in advance and then communicated mostly via email. This unfortunately led to several miscommunications/ lack of communication between the manager and one of the employees. The manager communicated via an email that he later claimed he didn't use frequently, leading to long delays in responses. When we picked up the food, the woman at the front overcharged us by $25 but claimed she charged the agreed-on price. After several unsuccessful tries to contact the manager, we finally lost interest in pursuing a refund. read more