This place is the best, such affordable food and the best service in town. Food is also incredibly…read moregood, better then most places that are charging double what they are. I don't understand how it's not constantly packed. If you haven't been here, go as soon as possible because you won't regret it!!!

This is my go to Mediterranean place in Orange County. Everything is fresh, healthy and homemade…read more My favorite is the Koobideh Combo! The watermelon mint drink is refreshing and their baklava is the best!

Shout-out to Ricky, Agustin, and Carlos! They really went out of their way helping us with all our…read morequestions about the food and how the portion sizes would be for our kids. The dining area was clean and had good music playing. We will be back for sure!

My new after gym spot. Everything is fire…read more I had the chicken kabob plate. Chicken was juicy. Vegetables grilled to perfection. Chefs kiss

From the moment the glistening rolls hit the table, we knew we were in for a good night. The rolls…read morewere coated in butter infused with zesty lemon and thyme (Yes, like the name of the restaurant! Isn't that adorable and clever?) Then came the entrees. Knockout after knockout. The Pork Belly with Black Garlic and the Seared Duck Breast were both perfectly executed. Crunchy, golden skin. Juicy meat. Rich, flavorful sauces paired with comforting, silky purées. Balanced. The kind of plates that make us slow down to savor each mouthful... and then shamelessly scrape up every last bite. We were so smitten after those first two dishes that we threw all caution and control to the wind. I asked staff to surprise us with one of the dishes recommended earlier. Out came the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor. Nice char, tender bite, and a tangy sauce. For dessert: the Baklava Cheesecake. Lightly spritzed with aromatic rose water, ultra sweet, and unapologetically indulgent. Beautifully crafted and shareable, though you may not want to. Beyond the food, the ambience really shines. Intimate, classy, and whimsical, with a charming playlist. Ideal for date nights or special celebrations. Service was outstanding. Warm, attentive, and passionate. Staff enthusiastically walked us through the menu and offered recommendations. Our server was on point. Water glasses were never empty, plates cleared promptly, and everything flowed seamlessly. An incredible experience from start to finish. I couldn't stop yapping about the duck and pork belly since our first dinner here. So we came back the following weekend! We ordered our favorites again - the Pork Belly with Black Garlic and the Seared Duck Breast. To our surprise, the meats felt rather chewy and tough. I'm hoping this was a hiccup, but would love to see consistency in texture. Will be coming back for more :)

Ambience: 4 stars, small, clean, and simple. Intimate space with oldies music playing in the…read morebackground. Service: 4 stars, simple good service. Parking: Free parking in the back of the restaurant. Our Tes took us to the parking lot outback when we punched in their address. Food: 4 stars. Small menu selection with a couple of specials for dinner. Really enjoyed the burger + fries + beer trio. Good solid food. Creative and generous serving portions. This is really out of the way for us, but since we were doing some shopping in Costa Mesa, Grok recommended this restaurant based on a few of our filters... Wow, the food was phenomenal...but what pushed this from a 4 star to a 5 star experience were the warm towelettes and lemon for me to wash my hands with. I guess they saw me using my hands to eat their delectable empanadas, they brought a plate with warm towelettes and lemon over. Pleasantly surprised and impressed. Highly recommended, and will definitely be back. We come down to the OC a few times a month to see friends and escape our regular routine.

I can confidently say that Darbari Persian Grill is my all-time favorite spot for Persian cuisine…read more Every single time I come here, it's consistently amazing. My go-to order is the chicken Cornish, and I always substitute the rice for zereshk polo. The rice is perfectly fluffy every time, and the barberries add the most delicious tang that just brings the whole dish together. It's seriously so good. They're also incredibly generous with their lavash bread, which I love because it pairs perfectly with everything. But what really makes this place special is the service. Everyone here is genuinely so kind and attentive, and I mean everyone. You're always greeted when you walk in and again when you leave, which just makes the whole experience feel so warm and welcoming. There's also an older gentleman who is always there with the biggest smile, checking in to make sure everything is perfect, and it never goes unnoticed. I also love that it's pet-friendly. The outdoor seating area with the turf is such a nice touch, and my dog absolutely loves it. Overall, this place is a 10/10 with 1000/10 service. Anytime I'm in the area, I have to stop here without fail.

Clean plates. Clear flavors…read more No excess, no confusion. Just food that knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything else. You eat, you understand, you leave satisfied.

Everything was very good! From the Spicy Feta Dip, to the Lamb Gyro, to the Tzatziki sauce, to the…read morefries! Everything was very good quality, the portions were generous, and the seasoning/flavors were above what I usually experience at most Gyro/Greek establishments. Love the food and didn't know this place existed. You've got a new fan!

**I want to update my previous experience and give credit where it's due…read more We came in right around our scheduled pickup time, and overall the experience ended up being great. The reception was welcoming, everything was handled smoothly, and the staff was courteous and professional. Most importantly, the food absolutely delivered. Everyone loved it -- quality was on point, portions were solid, and everything tasted fresh. Appreciate the team taking care of us. Definitely a place we'll be coming back to. ** I don't usually write reviews, but this one earned it. I had a scheduled pickup for 3:30 PM today (Easter Sunday) and arrived at 3:15. The employee at the front (younger guy with tattoos and earrings) was dismissive right out of the gate. I gave my name and he insisted there was no order--only to realize, after multiple attempts, that he had it the entire time and had misheard it. Instead of owning the mistake, he got annoyed and told me I was "too early" and that I'd have to wait the full time. When I asked a simple question about timing, I got attitude instead of service. Let's be clear--being 15 minutes early for a pickup order is normal. Acting like a customer is inconveniencing you because of your own mistake is not. The food may be fine, but the front-of-house experience completely undermines it. Service like that is what loses repeat customers.

Discovered this place a couple of years ago and took my cousin who lives here in FV less than 2…read moremiles away, but had never been. She's a regular now. Decided to have dinner here again, and so glad we did. Ordered the combo with gyro meat and kefta. Serving size is decent, less meat than expected but tasty and filling, Love the rice and hummus with warm pita. Also ordered the grrek salad. My husband and I shared both entrees. The combo ones with a side salad with a lemony deessing, which was really good and different from the Greek salad dressing, also really good. You can request the pickles id happened to notice when I wsnt to order more pita. 1 cones with the meal but its not enough for the amount of hummus. There are 3 sauces also. A tzaziki, hot sauce and another green one im not sure if it was a pesto. No matter, all good. I'll definitely be back. Its popular for sure, lots of takeout and call in orders. Steady line of customers at meal times.

This is a small hidden gem Mediterranean place. I like to get the gyro plate that comes with gyro,…read morehummus, salad and pita. They also have delicious kabobs, kafta and baba ganoush. I wish the baba ganoush they would also offer it as an option for the plated meals besides the hummus like a extra charge would be great. It's probably not as popular then its smokey and chunky and a bigger portion to share like an appetizer. This place gives you a good portion for the price.

The food is amazing and the service is great. My wife asked about a drink that wasn't on the menu…read moreand they didn't have it but our server mixed it up for her. Lebanese style falafels are the best and this place nails it. I commented to my wife how beautiful the chicken had come out, the colors, little black charred corners and edges from the fire, golden reflection on the glaze. It is not cheap but worth every penny. Our server was great and we can't wait to go back. The place is so unassuming from the outside and beautiful on the inside.

This is a cozy and chic restaurant! Parking is a bit limited on the lot but you can park on the…read morestreet. The staff is friendly and interior is beautifully decorated. Started with a pomegranate margarita to drink. For entrees we got mixed shawarma and kofta kebab. Finished the meal with knafe. Pomegranate Margarita- The base is strong with a refreshing pomegranate flavor. It has just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of tartness. Mixed Shawarma- It comes with chicken and beef shawarma. Both are tender and flavorful. It comes with warm pita bread, fattoush salad, and garlic and tahini sauce. The salad offers a freshness that complements the rest of the items. The sauces are perfect on the meat. Kofta Kebab- You get ground beef kebab that is seasoned and cooked to perfection. Pairs well with basmati rice and fattoush salad. You get a tasty yoghurt sauce that ties the flavors together. Knefe- This is a delicious dessert that comes with gooey cheese on a shredded phyllo base that is nice and crunchy. Finished with a sweet honey and rosewater syrup and a sprinkle of crushes pistachios. Great experience overall!

I had to take a second to write this because the experience was that good…read more Andres at CAVA is on another level. From the moment I walked in, he brought great energy, was genuinely welcoming, and made the whole experience feel personal instead of rushed. You can tell he actually cares about what he's doing -- not just going through the motions. He helped me build the perfect bowl, gave solid recommendations, and made sure everything was dialed in exactly how I wanted it. On top of that, his attitude stood out the most -- positive, attentive, and just real. That kind of service is rare. People like Andres are the reason I'll keep coming back. CAVA is lucky to have him. Give that man a raise.

CAVA is my favorite Mediterranean fast-casual spot and easily my go-to for healthy fast food…read more I love the salad bowls, and the braised lamb is always my order, it's flavorful, tender, and really satisfying. The toppings are great too, with plenty of options that let you build something fresh without it feeling boring. I used to go to CAVA all the time when I lived in New York, so I'm genuinely happy to have one here in Costa Mesa now. Reliable, healthy, and consistently good, this place never lets me down.

Food was flavorful and filling. service was very attentive . The ambience was relaxing with calming…read moremusic. This made my experience exceptional. I will return to this place and recommend it as well.

Found this little place on Yelp and it was delicious! The pita and hummus was great, I was…read morerecommended to try the spicy and was not let down. Very fresh and flavourful tasting hummus. The entree was the filet mignon and chicken sushi kebabs. Both were cooked perfectly and had great flavor with the basmati rice. A great option if you're looking for Mediterranean in the area

** this is from several months ago** t'was sitting in my drafts for a bit,…read more... Several beer pitchers in @ HACHI (just next door-shout out to them)-- for a celebration of a breakup, the end of midterms, or simply the triumph of continuing to exist (in THIS economy?? were all needing to praise ourselves for simply surviving) -- we found ourselves drawn, like moths to a fluorescently lit flame, to Halal Guys. Now listen. The food? Solid. Reliable. The kind of food that understands you are not here for nuance. You are here because life has punched you in the throat and you require a plate of rice, chicken, gyro meat, and mysterious white sauce to spiritually stabilize. I used to go to the OG one in NYC when i was getting punched in the throat there too. (PUNCHED IN THE THROAT BY ACADEMIA, FIGURATIVELY, y'all haver crazy imaginations outthere). BUT it;s the people... It's always the people... The staff. My siblings in falafel... it was 10 PM. You could feel the collective energy of "we have been serving drunk people since sunset and you are the 437th group tonight explaining your breakup story while pointing at the menu." Not judging, just warmth and the quiet aura of people who have seen things. Who have witnessed humanity at its lowest point: ordering extra hot sauce and then immediately regretting it. JC looked in my soul and I think he understood,,, everything. AND JESS! (my fairy wielding a spoon scooping the heavenly meat and talking to me like a therapist??) And they fed us. Efficiently. Respectfully. Would I return? hell ya i would. only to see if Jess and JC remembers me. JK the food is always reliable. y'all stay away from the hot saucres,

Overall (1/5) This was easily my worst Halal Guys experience…read moreand honestly left me really disappointed. I came craving something familiar and left feeling like I wasted both time and money. First Impressions (1/5) When I walked in, there was only one person working, handling the fryer, the register, and assembling plates. I genuinely felt bad for her, especially considering the steady line forming. What We Got (2/5) I ordered a regular plate, which is what I usually get at Halal Guys. Nothing customized or complicated, just the standard order I have had many times before at other locations. Taste and Quality (0/5) The food was shockingly bad. The rice was raw and crunchy, which was hard to believe at first. The meat pieces were tiny and very chewy, and the pita bread was extremely soggy. On top of that, it was only around 4 pm and the usual spinning meat and grill were not even on, despite the line picking up. Service (2/5) The worker was clearly trying her best, but one person running everything in a busy location is not realistic. She was constantly running back and forth between the fryer and the line, which made the whole operation feel chaotic and slow. Space and Atmosphere (3/5) The space itself was fine and what you would expect from Halal Guys. Clean enough, but nothing stood out positively enough to offset the food experience. Was It Worth It (0/5) Not at all. As someone who is pretty frugal and almost always finishes their meals, I could not finish this plate. It genuinely felt like a waste of $18. Final Thoughts This location does not seem to be held to the same standards as other Halal Guys in the area. This experience was disappointing from start to finish.