Another craving for Persian food, so I brought my brother here to try out the Saba Grill's delectable main entrees. I ordered the meal that I entered before I even arrived, which was the lamb shanks with Bagheli Polo. Before the entree arrived, the nice wait staff bright out a basket of pita bread with posts of butter, the pits bread was hot and tasted so fresh! My brother and I competed for the bread and actually we had to ask for seconds, and the basket came out right before the main entrees. We ordered two of the same entree, the lamb shanks and they came out with a nice combination of yellow and dill rice, totally delicious. I had been craving Persian lamb shanks for a while, and finally have found the place that offered them in the menu. You definitely need to check this restaurant out. There is parking right in front of the restaurant. The portion of food enabled both of us to each bring home leftovers for another meal. Would I come back again, yes, in a heartbeat! There's a lot of items you can try out here, and they're delicious. The bathroom is outside of the front door to the right, ask the staff for the code. It has a cute interior with bricks in an arch, and a teal colored front door, it's very inviting! read more

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I had a really disappointing experience with both the food and the customer service here. The flavors had potential, which is why this was so frustrating, but the food quality, portion, and treatment were not acceptable for the price. I originally had an issue with the lamb chops. I called the restaurant, explained the problem, and spoke with them for about 15 minutes. During that call, the Soltani Kabob was discussed and agreed to as the replacement. That was the correction I accepted. When my mom went to pick it up, she only gave a general summary that we had ordered lamb before and that the restaurant had agreed to make it right. Instead of checking the specific agreement I had already made with them, they gave lamb chops again. That was not what we agreed to, and it was the dish I already did not want repeated. The lamb chops were small, bone-heavy, and overcooked, with a lot of char and not much edible meat for the price. The plate looked like mostly rice, bones, and onions, rather than a satisfying premium lamb plate. The portion was not filling either. After eating a nearly $36 plate, I was still hungry and had to eat my Jollibee leftovers afterward, which was honestly sad. For that price, a customer should not be left hungry and disappointed. The second plate also seemed incomplete. The rice was plain and flavorless. The first time, the rice had the expected flavorings and accompaniments, which helped balance the dish. The second time, it was missing the expected fixings like sumac, onions, mint, or anything that made the plate taste complete. Without those, the dish became one-note, basically overcooked lamb with bland rice. The worst part was the customer service afterward. When I followed up, they treated me as if I was trying to get free food instead of asking them to fulfill the correction they had already agreed to. They told me, "We're not going to give you any food. Don't call back," and then hung up on me. That was appalling. I was not asking for random free food or special treatment. I was asking them to honor the remedy they had already agreed to after the original order issue. A restaurant can make a mistake. What I cannot accept is a restaurant offering a correction, failing to provide the agreed correction, repeating the dish I did not want, and then speaking to the customer with contempt for asking that the agreed remedy actually be fulfilled. The prices are also part of why this felt so insulting. This is not a cheap meal where I would expect sloppy service or careless correction. Their kebab plates are priced at a premium. At these prices, I expect the restaurant to provide the correct agreed-upon dish, prepare it properly, and speak to customers with basic respect. No food is good enough to justify being degraded as a customer. I was genuinely interested in trying the Soltani Kabob and would have come back if the food and service had been good. Instead, the portion, food quality, and customer treatment were insulting. I cannot recommend a place that handles its own mistakes this way. read more

Saba Grill - 40. Sheshlik Kabob With Rice - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

After wrapping up an event nearby, we drove out to SJ for dinner and randomly found this spot.. perfect timing because we were craving kabobs We went on a Thursday night and it was actually pretty busy! It's a smaller space, so seating is a bit limited. There were also a couple of large groups ahead of us, so the food took a little longer, but honestly, we didn't mind since it made sense. They did run out of bread that night (tragic ), so we'll definitely have to come back for the full experience. We ordered the chicken & koobideh kabob combo and the beef filet kabob, and wow...the kabobs were sooo juicy. The rice was fluffy, everything was flavorful, and it really hit the spot. Overall, we had a great experience and would for sure come back again. read more

Saba Grill - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

Does size matter? Maybe... What Saba Grill's lamb shank lacked in heft, made up in flavor and texture. One of the most meltingly tender lamb shanks I've had. But more on that later. Saba Grill opened sometime in May 2025 and seems to be a rebrand of Stone Stew's second location. There's a Saba Grill banner outside but we were given Stone Stew's menu (not the Saba one online). Currently open for takeout and indoor dining only. M E N U Persian Cuisine - array of apps/salads, stews, wraps, and kebabs. Halal meats. There's a "weekend breakfast" menu of kale pache (lamb head & trotters) and zaban (lamb tongue) but sadly, the weekend menu wasn't available on Saturday. F O O D * Complimentary Persian Flatbread w/ butter Served warm, the flatbread was crisp on the outside with a good chew. * Lamb Shank w/ baghali polo: Lamb shank, basmati rice, dill, fava beans ($23.99): https://tinyurl.com/m8wf55hs Our fav dish of the two, the slow braised lamb shank was so soft, meltingly tender, and aromatic. Just wish it was meatier. Served with a heaping portion of fluffy baghali polo with a nice tang and sweet nutty flavor from the dill and fava beans. So delicious and comforting. * Koobideh Kabob w/ rice, tomato ($21.99): https://tinyurl.com/bdf5thmz - Requested juicy Unfortunately, the koobideh (ground beef kabob) was quite overdone and dry. It seems the chef sliced into the koobideh to check its doneness resulting in the juices running out. Served with fluffy basmati rice crowned with saffron rice and a juicy charred tomato. S E R V I C E Prompt. A M B I A N C E Cozy and rustic with pops of color; 8 tables and booths. Restroom is outside the building. P A R K I N G Private parking lot. Overall, we really enjoyed the lamb shank and baghali polo. If in the DTSJ area again, we would return for their weekend breakfast menu. read more

Saba Grill - Koobideh [Ground Beef] Kabob w/ rice, tomato ($21.99) - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

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I was saddened to find out about the change of ownership. I certainly liked the hostess that used to work there for her exceptional customer focused service. She knew what my kids liked to eat and would come to confirm with them they still wanted their favorites. Fast forward to now, we walk in and are greeted by a sweet lady with a big smile. We have a nice conversation about the change of ownership and to my surprise, the menu has not changed. Good and bad. Good, because I knew exactly what to order. Bad, because I had hoped they added new items to try. There is a better! Better because the intend we ordered clearly tasted better I mean, I felt like I visited Tehran and was sitting at a friends house enjoying a meal cooked by his sweet grandmother. Now, I would suggested to them to add new menu items and create a following of Persian food addicts. Let be their leader. The restaurant look and feel is the same as before... nice small and cozy little room with about 8-10 tables. Usually it's not too busy and the food tends to come out pretty quickly. Visit this nice little gem in downtown SJ and thank me later. Actually, thank the new owners who are doing a great job! Lots of Algerian love! Cherif read more

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We love this place! Its great for togo as it travels well. Skewers and rice are excellent, and the house bread is tasty. The staff is always welcoming and the food is ready quickly. It is easy to get 2 meals from most of their skewer dishes, as they come with a LOT of rice and meat. read more

Like the food. Good portion and testy. Nice people. Didn't charge me for extra food. Thanks read more

Saba Grill - Mix combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

Great service and food. Everything is tasty and flavorful. Highly recommended.........

This place has free parking in downtown which is a huge plus. The server was nice. The food was okay but it definitely needed a yogurt sauce not sure if they just forgot to give it to me. Plenty of in door seating. read more

Saba Grill - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

I was a regular at Stone Stew and since they rebranded as Saba Grill (under new management according to them), I have ordered food twice. The first time under the new management, the food was as amazing as before. Maybe even a little better, especially with the freebies that they gave me for no reason! Today however, I ordered a koobideh combo and it was really bad! It tasted nothing like koobideh. I'm not particularly attached to any special kind of koobideh or other variants of it from other cuisines but this wasn't like any of them. Rice was also not as good as before. Dry and a little tasteless I would say. I really hope that this was a one-time blip because I really liked their food before. I may give them a try later on but if the food quality remains like today's, I'd stop going there. read more

Excellent food! We stopped by after No Kings march. Great service. Everything was very fresh. We had lamb chops and salad. Highly recommend!

Authentic Persian food! So glad to have a spot that reminds me of my family's cooking. We ordered the Chicken and Koobideh kabobs -- both were delicious! The rice was buttery, and the Persian salad brought back childhood memories. Service was quick, prices were reasonable, and while the interior is a bit rustic, it just adds to the charm. It's nice to see mom-and-pop restaurants still going strong. read more

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Delicious Persian food with authentic flavors! We ordered the Soltani and chicken kabab with rice and tomato, salad, and yogurt -- everything was bursting with flavor and absolutely delicious. We also enjoyed tea and baklava, which were the perfect sweet finish. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the owner is very friendly, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. read more

So delicious and generous with portions. If you're craving Persian dishes, come support this restaurant! Also shout out to the kind lady that assisted us! That was also a highlight for our visit. The Food, service, cleanliness and all, 10/10 read more

We used to love and order from Stone Stew II all the time. With the change of management & the chef, it is noticeably different. Not Persian but more Arabized. Still the food is decent, no comparison to the previous one though. Suggestion: Make it an Arabic restaurant or get an intensive Persian training! read more

I had one of the BEST zeresh polo with chicken here! Wow. Everything we tried was a 10/10. Salad shirazi, barg, chicken skewer & mirzaghasemi all very delicious. read more

Saba grill is right next to where I live. Love the convenience of just stepping out and going there for a bite to eat. I've had them cater food for my large parties and everyone loves their food. Staff's very professional. They're fast too! I love their kabobs and specially love their lamb shank with their special rice. Can't wait to go there again! read more

Wonderful food and service. Lots of great Kebobs and other options on the menu. The food was fresh and the service was delightful. Prices were reasonable too. I highly recommend this place. read more

Best Persian food in the Bay Area!! Service is consistent and kind. Food is literally perfect - each item we ordered was a hit with our whole group. You haaaave to get the maast moosir/shallot yogurt. Planning to come again. read more

Saba Grill - Lamb shank with Baghali pollo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Jose, California

The food was very bland and rice was just boiled. I would goto taste of persia. Meat was not seasoned well

Such a great spot! The kebabs were amazing and everything tasted super fresh. We really enjoyed the food and the vibe -- definitely coming back! read more

absolutely love the food here. everything is fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The service is also excellent; the staff are attentive, friendly, and make you feel welcome. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to friends. read more

Food disgusting!! Service terrible and ambience none!! Dirt and toilet dirty. I would not eat here. Stay away, the good reviews are from friends and family or the homeless folks. read more

I loved the food,OMG I RECOMMEND IT TO try this place. Saba Grill is Phenomenal.The customer service is top notch.

Recently a small group of us went to dinner at Saba, a Persian restaurant at the corner of 4th and Julian in downtown San Jose. The owner, Saba, and her daughter waited on us and offered suggestions of what we might like. She immediately served us bread, water and small dishes of cucumber salad. We decided to order Torgabeh, a mixed plate of seasoned ground beef, filet mignon, and chicken. We added a skewer of salmon and it served the five of us with leftovers. Every dish was well-seasoned and the meats were tender and tasty. Saffron rice, broiled tomatoes, and a tangy dish of yogurt accompanied the main courses. None of us had been familiar with Persian food before, but we came away eager to return for more. This simple family restaurant at the corner of 4th and Julian is a culinary delight that should not be missed. The pleasant warmth of Saba and the delicious food that she and her husband created made our evening very special. read more