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    Lemon Zest

    4.4 (177 reviews)
    ModerateMediterranean

    Order Lemon Zest Takeout or Delivery

    Lemon Zest Photos

    LEMON ZEST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Lemon Zest

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    Reviews With Photos

    Terrence T.

    What a great find! My friend and I were in Sherman Oaks and wanted lunch! Strolling around Ventura Boulevard we stopped in front of the Lemon Zest Cafe and were enamored by the menu! Walked in a were welcomed by friendly staff. The menu was Mediterranean cuisine with a splash of California flare. We ordered the Chipotle Cheese Fries and dolmas (stuffed grape leaves). Great portions, fast service and very cheerful/lemony ambiance.

    Interior
    Ray M.

    First time visitor and I was extremely pleased with my entire dining experience at this restaurant. Upon entering, I immediately noticed that this restaurant was very clean, well organized, the music playing was so relaxing. The employees were extremely friendly, polite, welcoming and genuinely and visibly happy that we were dining in their restaurant. Service was EXCELLENT!! We ordered the chicken kabob lunch portion. While we were waiting for our food, the owner brought us a complimentary large, dish of pita and hummus. It was so good! Our entrees finally arrived (15-20 minute) and wow!! Everything looked and smelled delicious! One taste of the rice, chicken and salad and I was floored! There was so much flavor in each bite. Every item was AMAZING, fresh and very tasty. This was definitely a positive dining experience.

    Loaded fries. Yummy.
    Will G.

    This place is located right in the middle between Sepulveda & Van Nuys on Ventura. Parking is tricky. 8pm is the cutoff. There are a few tables outside so I'm guessing it's dog-friendly. The interior is nice. They serve beer and wine. The server was very friendly. I had a Lamb Gyro - which was blandly seasoned. Had hoped for the intense flavors I had had previously - but this chef I a bit safe. It's all good. To each his own. My friend had the Chicken Kabob plate and really enjoyed it. We loved the hummus. The pita breads were surprisingly thin. Tasty. But, thin. All-in-all a pleasant dining experience. I will definitely come back to try a few other dishes. Get your grub on!!

    Combo #1 chicken and lule with half and half sides
    Tatiana M.

    Pit stop on my way to through LA and found this gem I feel so disappointed that I've driven past this place so many times and never stopped by. Now I know better this place is delicious I got a chicken and lule kabob combo plate with a side of baba ghanoush the serving was huge I'm glad I opted for a half rice half salad. The kabobs were so flavorful and tender. I'm making myself hungry as I type this review. The staff were really sweet and my order came out quick. The ambiance inside is quite nice a lot of seating options inside and out.

    Amy T.

    Completely fell off. I remember going here years back when they had the Glendale location only. It would come with salad rice and more meat! I understand that was years ago. It damn, so sad they get more business and get more popular, restaurants usually get worse. Such a basic meal. So disappointing.

    Ruchika P.

    If you are looking for fresh fare that won't weigh you down come check out Lemon Zest. The food is moderately priced and delicious. The location has ample parking in a lot behind it and the 1st hour is validated by the restaurant. Side note the baba ganoush was super tasty!!! Also if you like Falafel that is heavier on the garbanzo beans rather than parsley and other herbs then you will enjoy what they have to offer.

    So good
    Mali S.

    We love this place I will definitely will come back. The service is beautiful also very clean. This is what I really always care very clean and very very polite. Customer service top of the line. Trust me if you tried once you will definitely go back again.

    Yummmmmmm
    gina e.

    Lemon Zest Cafe is a cute spot to catch a delicious, casual Mediterranean lunch. You order at the counter and the food is brought out to your table. I went during lunch time on a week day and there was no wait. The food came out fairly fast. Foodwise.. it was so good! ! I ordered the beef lule kabob plate with Shirazi salad and yogurt with cucumbers and it did not disappoint! The beef lule was flavorful and tender. The dish came with a grilled chili pepper which added a nice spice with every bite. The Shirazi salad was refreshing and the cucumber yogurt was good as a sauce for your protein. Don't forget to sprinkle the sumac on your dish! I would definitely come here again.

    5 piece falafel with hummus to-go
    Yolanda H.

    I went for dinner back to back evenings for the chicken kabob dinner. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. I chose the half rice and half Greeks salad. I ordered the falafels one evening. They're as hard and dry. However the plus was that they came with hummus.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Lemon Zest

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    The restaurant offers takeout only but you can get delivery through third party apps like door dash

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    Carnival Restaurant

    Carnival Restaurant

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I've been coming here for years, and while there are plenty of great options on the menu, I always…read morecome back for two things: the tabbouleh and the chicken shawarma plate with homemade fries. The shawarma plate also comes with a delicious lentil soup that perfectly starts the meal. Everything tastes fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. The service has always been friendly, and one of my favorite things about this restaurant is the people it brings together. During a weekday lunch, you'll hear English, Arabic, Armenian, and Hebrew all being spoken in the same dining room. It's a reminder that good food has a way of bringing people from all walks of life together. I wish the world mirrored this environment. The only thing I miss is the original décor. Before the remodel, the walls were decorated with beautiful photographs of Lebanon that gave the restaurant so much character. The updated space is clean, but it feels a little plain in comparison. If you're visiting on a weekend, expect a wait because this place is popular. Be sure to save room for the homemade baklava. I also appreciate that they're one of the few restaurants in Los Angeles that serves Coke Zero. This is one of those places I keep coming back to, and for good reason.

    Just had a very disappointing experience with Carnival…read more I ordered a combination plate through Uber Eats, which includes two sides. I selected rice as one side, then paid an additional $4.50 to upgrade my second side to grilled vegetables. When my order arrived, there was no rice--only the vegetables. I called the restaurant, assuming it was a simple mistake. Instead, I was told that ordering grilled vegetables automatically replaces the rice because it's considered a "double side." That makes absolutely no sense. I paid extra for the vegetables, yet somehow ended up with less food, not more. The worst part is that this policy is nowhere on the menu or website. If ordering grilled vegetables means you forfeit your rice, that should be clearly disclosed before customers pay extra--not explained only after the food arrives. So here I am, standing in my kitchen making my own rice because something needs to accompany these dry ass kababs. There are far too many honest, customer-friendly Middle Eastern restaurants in the area to waste your money on a place that charges you more while giving you less. I don't care how long they've managed to survive on these sneaky ways- I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Hummus  with chicken
    Hummus with chicken
    Shawarma plate

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    Shawarma plate
    Panini Kabob Grill

    Panini Kabob Grill

    3.8
    (189 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    LGBTQ friendly

    I LOVE the chicken kabob with basmati rice dinners from Panini Grill. This is by far my favorite…read moreitem on the menu. I have tried other food items; however, I always return to my favorite. The kabob plate I recently had was DELICIOUS! The chicken was moist and perfectly grilled. The basmati rice was so good and filling, and my Mediterranean salad was very good as well. The lentil soup was hearty and left me wishing I had ordered a larger bowl. Our waitress was very hardworking, kind, and attentive. The entire restaurant was clean, everything was shiny, and the tables were well-stocked. Parking is available in the large private lot. This was a great dining experience.

    Not the best experience. We came in, placed our order, and then waited quite a while. The meat was…read morecooked incorrectly, even though there were very few people in the restaurant. We had them remake it, but by the time the replacement arrived, we had already finished the rest of our meal. Our server was wonderful and constantly apologized, even though none of this was her fault. Within an hour of leaving, we became very ill and we had a rough night. I contacted corporate to let them know what happened, but their response was essentially a brush-off--basically saying it could have happened anywhere. That was quite surprising and very disappointing. Based on this experience, it's not worth the risk of trying again.

    Photos
    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill

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    Pita kitchen

    Pita kitchen

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I've been coming here since the early 2000s, and it's still hands down one of my all-time favorite…read morespots on Ventura Blvd. Some places come and go but Pita Kitchen has stayed consistent, and that says everything. I've brought plenty of friends over the years, and every single one of them has said the same thing after their first visit: this place is legit. Anytime I try Mediterranean food in a similar price range, I find myself comparing it back to Pita Kitchen and honestly, it's hard to beat. My go to is the steak plate with Greek salad perfectly grilled, flavorful, and always fresh. You can really taste the quality in every bite. Pro tip: eat it there, right when it comes out. That's when it truly hits different. In a time where a lot of restaurants lose their edge or disappear altogether, I'm genuinely glad Pita Kitchen is still here and still delivering. A true staple. - Ian Lantz

    Back to back issues with this restaurant…read more I found a hair last week in my food. I didn't even want a new plate. Today I went to the restaurant and I saw a gentleman in the kitchen with a wet mop, touching the wet mop, then touching my food right after. I will never go back to Pita Kitchen and do not recommend. This place is extremely unsanitary and unprofessional. They need to rewrite or follow through on their SOPs, standard operation procedures.

    Photos
    Order here. Small place but good food. 9/27/24
    Order here. Small place but good food. 9/27/24
    Pita kitchen. 9/27/24
    Pita kitchen. 9/27/24
    My meal at the Pita Kitchen. Hummus, 9/27/24 fries and shawarma

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    My meal at the Pita Kitchen. Hummus, 9/27/24 fries and shawarma
    Sadaf Restaurant

    Sadaf Restaurant

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$
    Private events
    Catering service

    Spacious restaurant with paid valet parking in the back or free street parking if you can find it…read more The staff were really welcoming and nice. We ordered the appetizer combo so we got to try a bit of everything (roasted eggplant, yogurt dip, and hummus with domas), and Tahdig crispy rice appetizer with three different stews. We also ordered the combo platter #2 with beef, chicken and a separate order of filet mignon that came with salad, rice, cucumber salad, and roasted tomato, bell pepper and onions. Everything was really delicious and flavorful.

    2 out of 5 stars…read more I've been to this restaurant several times with my Persian friends who speak Farsi, and every visit has come with excellent service. That's why I was excited to bring my girlfriend and her friend here today. Unfortunately, this experience was completely different. Our waiter, Amir, barely checked on our table. His greeting and every interaction with us felt monotone, rushed, and completely lacking any warmth. There wasn't a single smile or welcoming gesture throughout the meal. At one point, I walked to the restroom and, on my way back, saw the same waiter enthusiastically speaking Farsi and providing attentive, friendly service to several other tables. The contrast between how those tables were treated and how we were treated was impossible to ignore. Based on my experiences here, it certainly felt like customers who are Persian or speak Farsi receive a much warmer level of service than those who don't. The food is still good, but service is a big part of the dining experience. I left disappointed, especially after recommending this place to others. Unless you speak Farsi or are Persian expect mediocre to poor service. This shoutout is for you Amir! Hopefully management reads this review.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Sadaf Salad: Romaine lettuce, baby greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, raisins,dates, lentils, crunchy walnuts, feta.
    Sadaf Salad: Romaine lettuce, baby greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, raisins,dates, lentils, crunchy walnuts, feta.
    Juicy Chicken

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    Juicy Chicken

    Lemon Zest - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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