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    Mediterranean Cafe

    4.1 (768 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MEDITERRANEAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Mediterranean Cafe

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    Salmon Greek Salad
    Lin J.

    Such a cute spot. Food was good. Service was good. Portion sizes was huge!! I couldn't finish this salad. Nice location within walking distance to work-UCSD Hillcrest.

    The salad was delicious also
    Debra G.

    This place is so delicious and the customer service is excellent and the food is soo Authentic and delicious!!! Our new go to Mediterranean cuisine we give 10 Stars

    Dinner for Two Special
    Francesca P.

    Came for dinner here on a Saturday with family to watch some friends in the belly dance community perform. There is only street parking but we were able to find a spot that was metered but free after 6pm. The restaurant is small with only a few tables and seems like a small family-run business. The portions were extremely generous, reasonably priced, and each dish I tried was delicious. I got the dinner for two to share and it was massive. I got to try the beef, chicken, gyro, and falafel, rice, grilled veggies, stuffed grape leaves, and side salad. The meat was extremely tender, juicy, and flavorful. The falafel was a little dry but the side sauces that came with the meal helped. I love that they bring local talent to entertain patrons and would definitely return again.

    Chicken Hummus Plate

    Food tastes great. Nice man working the counter and relatively quick service. Good experience overall.

    Empty dinner rush
    Kevin T.

    TL;DR: NO. HEAVY PASS. GO HUNGRY. Sour taste in all dishes. Terrible seasoning. Protein buuuuurned. Oh ya, found a curly hair in my bite. Nothing tasted fresh...including the salad. Avoid at all costs. Do not be fooled by the quality or quantity of reviews. Mediterranean Cafe in Hillcrest is hands down the WORST Mediterranean food I've had, and not just in San Diego - ever. *Sorry for the rant but this was an overall terrible experience* [negative stars if possible] Was craving Mediterranean and blindly decided on Mediterranean Cafe based on the rating, and after reading some Yelp Elite reviews. Friendly reminder to do your homework! Your stomach will thank you Phoned Mediterranean Cafe in Hillcrest and ordered the Dinner for 2 takeout for $36.58. While this is not a terribly expensive meal by today's standards, this is absolutely not worth a single penny of that price tag. If I could go back, I'd rather just have burned it. I'm all for supporting local businesses but this food is not worth supporting. Was told that it would be a 20-minute wait (no problem - was expecting 30 given it was prime dinner time ~7p) - looking back I can't believe it took more than 10 I show up for pick-up and the place was...empty (kicking myself for not realizing what I was walking into). Let who seemed like the owner of the place know that I was there for pick up and paid. He checked the pass and saw my order was partially complete. After a quick conversation with the kitchen, I was informed it would be ready soon. Strolled the empty restaurant for about 5 minutes before I was handed the meal. Still, as I'm writing this, I'm realizing the delay is not frustrating. It's just confusing. Quick drive home and we get ready to dig in (see pictures) and proceed to regret each bite starting from the first Regrets: Salad: [#1 regret] Found such a curly hair in the second bite of already wilting greens...and there goes the appetite. Also, unfortunate to report the rest of the experience was better by 'just a hair'' Chicken and Beef kebabs: everything is charred. Both sides. Onions and bell peppers included. You eat it because it's the protein of the dish, not because you want to Dolma: wow this was weird all the way through. The grape leaf wrapping smelled sour and after biting through, the texture of the wrapped rice was mushy and even more sour. Truly difficult to even put a single bite down Falafel: questionable texture and seasoning. Might have been microwaved. Equal possibility of canned? Definite frozen. Hummus: grainy, and covered in even more sour chunks of feta - not tasty Ok: Gyros meat was acceptable/passable as cooked. Still is not worth getting Pita: dry as a thick soft saltine but at least this was edible and in good amount. Pita was paired with some home cooked eggs for our actual dinner I am not looking for a second chance to prove quality nor show off customer service. I am not looking for my money back. I am not looking for any excuses or apologies. I will absolutely never set foot in there again I am all for supporting local businesses - especially in a post-covid era where franchises and chains have been able to weather the storm and are buying up local shops trying to recover best they can. That said... This is not the food to support To the owner(s): I'm sure food was once your top priority. It is very clear that it no longer is. I hope you rediscover the passion for flavor if you decide to keep serving San Diegans. 0/5

    Chicken Kabob Plate
    Vesta B.

    I came here for the first time with my family and right away we were greeted. Fred (The owner) was so friendly and welcoming that we felt at home immediately. The menu offers you so many options that it's so hard to just pick one thing! We got the chicken kabob plate and it was delicious! It was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. It was so delicious that we were dancing in our seats and just kept saying how good it was. This place is amazing!! If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Excellent staff, service and food! Highly recommended for a great meal and a great conversation!

    Brenda B.

    I loved the chicken on skewer and the gyro meat. The rice was ok. Love the humus and I did like the salad. I placed my order through the website for pick up.

    3 types of meat for the dinner for two!
    Jonathan Z.

    Ordered through door dash, the Dinner for Two for $32 is a pretty good deal considering the amount of food you get. First of, you get a large greek salad, complete with feta and olives and a couple dressing options- one creamy and one balsamic. Then there's also an appetizer platter that comes with tabouli, hummus, dolma, falafels, and a bunch of olives. The entrees include a chicken kabob, beef kabob, and a helping of shaved lamb atop a bed of rice, and two foil-wrapped pitas, also complete with a creamy tzatziki sauce. The pistachio baklava wasn't included, but we decided to get it to complete the dinner. They've also got a walnut baklava option too. While not the best presentation, the quality of the food wasn't bad for the price. It was a nice, quick option for an indecisive Tuesday evening for two.

    Chicken Kabob

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    6 months ago

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    Fred L.

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    8 months ago

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    Fred L.

    Thank you for your kind words. Hope to see you soon again.

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    3 years ago

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    Fred L.

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    9 months ago

    Authentic traditional Greek & Mediterranean food. Excellent quality and service. One of my go-to neighborhood places for lunch and dinner.

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    Fred L.

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    Fred L.

    Thank you for your review. See you soon.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Mediterranean Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    Meze Greek Fusion

    Meze Greek Fusion

    4.4
    (3.4k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    We dedicated one afternoon in San Diego to what I lovingly call "happy hour hopping" & our first…read morestop was Meze Greek Fusion in the Gaslamp District. A choice I would happily make again! There were a good amount of happy hour drink specials & fun Greek meze offerings. Sometimes you want a full meal & sometimes you want to snack, sip & graze. Meze delivered exactly that experience. We opted for the cilantro jalapeño hummus with pita chips & it was not your ordinary hummus. Savory, creamy & packed with flavor, it had just the right hint of spice to keep things interesting. Then we added their signature hot sauce & suddenly things went from delicious to downright craveable. Meze made for the perfect kickoff to our afternoon of food & drinks in the Gaslamp District. Definitely a place we'd return to on our next San Diego trip! NOM NOM NOM #YUM

    After walking all day at Comicon, we just wanted a place to sit and enjoy a light lunch that wasn't…read morea taco/burrito. I found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. We were seated fairly quickly (outside) and our server was attentive. Thankfully it wasn't too hot and they had umbrellas to give us some shade. Both items ordered (chicken kabob and hummus) were decent. Chicken was juicy. Hummus, pretty standard. One star was taken off because the pita bread was too cakey/soggy and the rice was rather bland. Otherwise, it was nice environment and place for lunch and reprieve in the midst of comicon madness.

    Photos
    Private seating area for large parties
    Private seating area for large parties
    Shrimp & ouzo saganaki
    Shrimp & ouzo saganaki
    Gyro Plate

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    Gyro Plate
    Mimoza Mediterranean Restaurant

    Mimoza Mediterranean Restaurant

    4.6
    (418 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    A new Mediterranean spot in San Diego? Say less…read more I came here with friends, and it was a first-time visit for all of us. The moment we walked in, the space made an impression. The decor is gorgeous, warm, and stylish, with beautiful blue tones throughout -- which already won me over because blue is my favorite color. Our server, Emily, was fantastic. She was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely added to the experience. Great service can make a good meal better, and she absolutely did that. Now let's talk about the food, because they did not miss. At all. I ordered the salmon, and it was masterfully prepared. Perfect texture, full of flavor, and the sauce was the kind of sauce you keep going back to even after you swear you're done. My friends had the lamb, chicken, and beef plates, and everything at the table looked and tasted like it was made with real care. The salads were crisp and fresh, and the dressings were bright, flavorful, and balanced. And then there was the espresso martini. Honestly? Best I've ever had. No notes. The owners and staff were also genuinely kind and welcoming, which gave the whole experience that extra "we'll definitely be back" feeling. This is officially my new favorite Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego.

    Was excited to try this place and it lived up to the current reviews and expectations!…read more The red pepper hummus was so good. Its smooth, great olive oil in it and the bread was super warm. The lamb adana was a great sandwich. Solid amount of meat, great flavor and a sauce on the side + great, crispy fries! The service was excellent. She was so attentive, friendly and on top of everything. Music was good too in there & there is plenty of seating, including outdoors! Will be back when in SD

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    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Beyti Sarma
    Beyti Sarma
    Turkish Coffee

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    Turkish Coffee
    The Kebab Shop

    The Kebab Shop

    4.3
    (2.3k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Halal

    Food was amazing! Came out quick and fresh…read more Went out for lunch with my coworkers and everything was great.

    I was on jury duty today and I wanted to have some Shawarma so I looked up on yelp and found the…read moreK-pop shop was about a 20 minute walk away. The menu was a bit confusing, but I know that I like grilled veggies and Greek salad and then Ike was able to pick my protein that I wanted so that seemed easy enough. The base price with falafel or chicken Shawarma was Close to $16 but since I chose the meat, they added two dollars to my total. It took about 10 minutes for them to assemble my meal, but my veggies were cooked fresh on the stove, which was really nice. They tasted very freshly cooked just as they would as if I had cooked them myself at home. I was there about 1245 on a Monday and there were a few people there and they had some takeout orders so my order took about 10 minutes before I could walk out the door with it. They had a nice condiment bar where you could pick out some yogurt with dill sauce and then they're famous garlic yogurt sauce, as well as a jalapeño sauce And another spicy hot one that I would never try. When I got back to the jury room to eat my meal, I saw that there was a nice quantity of the fresh salad and the grilled vegetables but the meat was piled high! The employees were working efficiently and the place was spotless and orderly.

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    The Kebab Shop
    The Kebab Shop
    The Kebab Shop

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    Shawarma Guys

    Shawarma Guys

    4.7
    (1.1k reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Casual dining

    I can for the viral Wagyu Shawarma Cheesesteak. It was very tasty with a mix of peppers, onion…read morecheese and sauce. Whatever sauce they used gave it a bit of spiciness. I went at 3:30 pm on a Saturday and was surprised that it was pretty busy at that weird time The sandwich was huge ( probably 12 inch sub) so depending on how hungry you are, you could easily split it. I loved the fries. Whatever seasoning they used gave is perfect

    Man I really wanted to like this place due to all the rave reviews. Our first experience was mixed…read morewith some meats being great and others dry beef bits that weren't very tasty or appealing. Our second experience we got the chicken shawarma Brian's way. Everything was cooked well, but I guess although I like pickles, I'm not as big a fan of Mediterranean pickles. The first bite or two were actually good, but subsequent bites the pickle tanginess was overwhelming and just not so pleasant as I finished it. I thought maybe I'll get it without the pickles next time. However, after eating I got an unexpected headache that usually comes from ingestion of MSG. The fries were tasty... maybe there was MSG in those? Not sure. I've honestly had much better phenomenal shawarma in San Joes CA. I have yet to find a great Shawarma here in San Diego. Feel free to recommend.

    Photos
    Ordering counter
    Ordering counter
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

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    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !
    Alforon

    Alforon

    4.6
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    I have eaten there so many times I can't even count. Their food and their restaurant is my favorite…read moreplace to eat in San Diego. George and Samia are the most wonderful people in the world. George will come out of the kitchen and explain, in detail, every item on the menu. I laugh when I read or even see a subpar review of Alforon. Those people are either high on drugs or never experienced excellent food before. Chicken Tawook, Tabouli salad, house pickles, everything is off the chart and that's just the for starters. You can close your eyes, point to a menu item and have the best meal of your life. Explore their whole menu, you can't go wrong with a single item. Hands down off the chart and excellent food by two of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life.

    First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Ouzi Lamb Special
    Ouzi Lamb Special
    Lamb fatteh

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    Lamb fatteh
    Shawarma Guys

    Shawarma Guys

    4.6
    (1.5k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    We heard about Shawarma guys from YT featuring best food spots in San Diego. We went to their South…read morePark branch. We were initially aiming for the crispy shawarma however only Mira Mesa and La Mesa does it. So I guess that's next on our list! The wraps were unexpectedly big! This is probably the biggest wrap I ever had! Generous with meat and veggies. Their wagyu egg rolls are definitely must have! Falafel fries is really good too! All of these perfectly paired with their garlic sauces. My favorite is spicy lemon garlic! The staff are very knowledgeable about their menu. It's a food truck set up and there's mini standing tables for alfresco dining. SG was definitely lived up to the title #1 restaurant in the country on Yelp!

    Came here on a Wednesday night around 8:30pm. I ordered online in advance and just waited outside…read morefor my order. There were plenty of parking spots around this time. Not really an ambience since there's not much as far as a dining room. There are a couple of cocktail tables where you could eat. After ordering online at 20:20pm, my estimated pick up time was 8:39pm and got the order at 9:03pm. The cashier informed me their chicken is taking a while and added extra time to the wait. It probably would've been faster if they weren't so backed up. I ordered the Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate for me and my wife to share. I added 3 falafels and pita bread on top of it. The food was still fresh when I got home 15 mins later. Everything was good and just enough for us two. Also, I'm not sure why there's a range of where they may be located on Yelp since this is just a food truck that seems to be permanent at this location.

    Photos
    Shawarma Guys
    Falafel Plate ($13) comes w/ yellow rice, hummus, tabouli and pita bread
    Falafel Plate ($13) comes w/ yellow rice, hummus, tabouli and pita bread
    Wagyu Beef Shawarma

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    Wagyu Beef Shawarma
    Amardeen Cafe

    Amardeen Cafe

    4.3
    (736 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$

    The food was actually really good, but the service was terrible…read more The staff seemed condescending and like they didn't want to be there at all. Not attentive, not friendly, just kind of dismissive the whole time. We ordered a bunch of dishes and to be fair, everything we tried tasted great and was flavorful so you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The cheese knefe was a bit disappointing though. It's supposed to be crispy, but it came out mushy and kind of fell apart. The rose water reduction also made it way too sweet for my taste. Still decent overall, just not what I expected. But honestly, the service alone ruined the experience for me. I wouldn't come back. Food: 8.5/10 Service: 0/10

    Oh my gosh. This place is so good, I highly recommend checking this place out…read more I had the Moussaka (Lebanese eggplant stew) and I throughly enjoyed it. It was so flavorful and the portions were pretty big. I also got to try the cheese fatayer, I loved the pastry it came it, it was great. This place has great vegetarian and vegan options along with some gluten free options. The menu is marked very well and they make it easy to navigate. The staff were friendly and the food came out fairly quick. The restaurant is on the smaller side. There was seating available for large and smaller parties. From the dinning area, they had a window into the kitchen so it was fun to be able to see the cooks make the food. They also had cute decor that added to the ambiance of the restaurant. There is plenty of parking available in the plaza that it is in.

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    Amardeen Cafe
    Chopped Chicken Salad
    Chopped Chicken Salad
    Lentil Soup

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    Lentil Soup

    Mediterranean Cafe - greek - Updated July 2026

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