Soltani Restaurant
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This small family owned restaurant had been on my radar to check out for quite some time. I'm in the area at times for work and thought it would be an ideal place to do have lunch. The high ratings and reviews led me to trying this place with my coworkers. Unfortunately, it was an odd experience and we will not be returning. It was a Wednesday afternoon and the small gated parking lot was pretty much empty and when we entered, there was no one in there. I was concerned. But we were all there and decided to stay. A gentleman or owner was trying his best and was friendly. There was another person preparing the food. We ordered the hummus, which was served with very thin flat bread pre-wrapped in plastic. The hummus also came out in a plastic container. It was bland and the consistency was not creamy, but more watered down. Interesting, he was really pushing for us to order the yogurt appetizer. But we were not interested. We all got the lunch specials, which was a fair amount. My taste buds were not happy at all. The iceberg salad was bland and drenched with a creamy white dressing that I did not care for. Not a fan of the onion and tomato either. There was no charred flavor or seasoning to entice me to eat it. My beef koobideh was dry and bland, and not juicy at all. It seemed like the rice and meat was reheated which resulted in dry results. My coworkers got the boneless chicken kebab and chicken koobideh. They were not happy either with their food. The quality of the food reminded me of what you would get from a cafeteria or institution that mass produces food. For drinks, we went to the cooler to pick out our own soda and canned drinks. As for the service, the owner was trying to be helpful, but not exercising sanitary practices. He was trying to remove the paper from our straws for us. There was one other person who came to pick up a takeout order during the time that we were there. We would love to support small businesses, but the food quality and lackluster taste will keep us from returning.
This place is definitely a must try! We came here on a Saturday afternoon and just like one of the reviews mentioned, there was no one in there, which got us a little skeptical, but! The beef koobideh... oh man. Where to start?! it falls off when you pick it up. 10/10 Tendernism. The hummus was definitely homemade 9/10, just needs a lil more salt which is not a hard fix. The owner was very attentive and made sure to help pack our left overs. 10/10 The place was clean, and quiet. We were able to talk and enjoy our food. Don't let the location fool you, the food is a must try.
A truly authentic hole in the wall Persian restaurant. The owner was incredibly sweet and attentive, and most importantly, the food was outstanding. Everything tasted fresh, homemade, and full of care. I also love supporting a local, family-run restaurant like this. We ordered the koobideh combos, tahdig with ghormeh sabzi, and their homemade yogurt with cucumber. Both the beef and chicken koobideh were extremely juicy and packed with flavor. It's hard to find a place that serves tahdig, the crispy Persian rice, and this one was done perfectly. It paired beautifully with the ghormeh sabzi, a rich and comforting Persian herb stew. They also offer green rice made with fava beans and dill, which complemented the koobideh and stew perfectly. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and deeply flavorful. Skip Panini Kabob Grill and other chain spots and come here instead. The food is far more authentic, flavorful, and satisfying. This place is a gem!
This place is amazing!! The owner is super nice and sweet. I arrived at the restaurant 1130am to beat the crowd. The chicken is great! I had a different type of rice. It had potatoes and it was really. The ambiance was very chill and not over crowded at that time. Place was clean and the easy to pay. You need to try this plate. Its called lamb something
We just found one of the best Persian restaurants in OC. The food is very delicious and fresh. The service is fast and very attentive. They have the best tahdig and masteh moosir. The kababs are out of this world. We tried chicken, koobideh and barg! Ended our dinner with a delicious cup of cardamon tea. I highly recommend this restaurant. Look forward to our next visit. Thank you Mr Mohammad Sadeghinejad
Food is delicious. My go to is the kabob with cherry rice. Service is great. Im glad to have such an authentic persian restaurant in Santa Ana.
This was my second time visiting this hidden gem of a restaurant. Mohammad is truly a one-man show hardworking, kind, and always pleasant. We stopped by to grab dinner to go before heading to the lantern festival. I ordered the Salmon Kebab, and my boyfriend got the Combo Koobideh. Portions are huge, the food is delicious, and the prices are super reasonable. If you're in the area and craving Persian food, definitely give this place a try and don't forget to say hello to Mohammad!
Absolutely hands down my favorite New persian food Spot! Mohammed the owner has being outstanding customer service. He's so kind and humble very professional. The restaurant was super clean the food is delicious and juicy full of flavor. Way better than fancy restaurants. I loved my experience here and will be back. Look for the red and green twinkle lights if driving at night. Can't wait to bring my family here.
I'm glad we tried out this place. Definitely not for you if you're looking for fancy. This was quiet and quaint and a little old-school. Service was quick. Soda was cheaper than other places. The hummus was a little less thick than I wanted but we loved the Koobideh and the rice. The owner was very welcoming. Recognized us as Filipinos and tried tagalog words with us. He was asking if we needed more drinks and got for my husband. He was egging us to eat more like a Lolo (grampa) when you visit their house. We really enjoyed our late lunch. Btw. There was ample parking too.
Giving this 3 stars because the staff works hard, parking is easy, and the place is nice. The issue was the food freshness. Both the chicken and ground beef had that off taste and smell of meat that has been in the fridge too long and is starting to go bad. I was starving so I ate the beef and some salad, but I returned the chicken and 80% of the salad. The worker was nice and blamed the bad taste on brown onions, but it definitely tasted like old meat. He said they use the meat every morning, but who knows if their source is fresh. He gave me $5 back on a $23 tab which was a nice gesture, but I'm still out $18 for a possibly spoiled ground beef kebab and I still have to find another place to eat. I don't want to discourage others since it might have just been an off day, but something was definitely wrong with the meat today
I stumbled upon this locally-owned humble Persian restaurant after moving nearby. The owner was very friendly to me when I entered, and he even gave me some mints/candies while I waited for my order lol. I got my order to-go but there's plenty of indoor seating too. I didn't know what to get since I usually don't eat Persian food, so I stuck with the chicken kabob. I think I got the combo or plate because it came with a salad and grilled veggies. It was sooo delicious, the chicken was super flavorful and moist. I loved the grilled onions that came with it too. The hummus and naan were just okay, but I will definitely come back for the chicken kabob and try the other entree items too. Overall very sweet and friendly owner and delicious food, I'd recommend stopping by!
Found Soltani while driving around Santa Ana. I went around 12p(noon), there was plenty of parking as well as available tables in the dining area. I was greeted with a smile by the gentleman cooking behind the counter and I was able to self seat at the table of my choosing. The person that took my order was very kind and instructed me to grab a beverage from the fridge if I'd like. I ordered a simply chicken and rice plate with a side of their salad. I can't recall the name but it was very tasty, fresh, and delicious. The food came out quickly and tasted amazing, the chicken was cooked to perfection and the rice was flavorful. I enjoy the roasted tomatoes as well as the jalapeno on the side. It brought even more flavor and texture to the meal. Soltani is worth checking out if you are looking for a Mediterranean spot in Santa Ana read more
Long bookmarked on Yelp, but I didn't find myself anywhere near the area until recently to actually try the food. Located on 1st in Santa Ana near Tustin, there's a wrought iron fence around the private lot, and the restaurant is open until 9pm most nights. I was surprised nobody was dining in, and except for a woman waiting for her takeout order to be made, I was the only person for most of the visit. I quickly realized the phone rings often, so most business is ordered ahead, with the option to eat there, in the car, or take home. Clearly, for presentation and likely quantity, I recommend eating there. The host is a nice older gentleman who literally does it all, and is so good it hardly seems like he's working. My Shish kabob plate came out faster than expected, and I was almost as impressed with the salad as the saffron rice and actual kabob, which is tender and amazing by the way. Basically, you pick a drink from the refrigerator, and I let him talk me into trying hummus, and appetizer, which ultimately comes with cut flatbread. His take is less creamy than other restaurants, but the flavors are fresh, without garlic. Don't worry, the salad dressing is a fantastic creamy Italian style. All-in-all, I was enjoying every bite and pretty much ate everything, although I preserved some hummus to eat at home. The price was commiserate with the quality, and I suppose I'll try more when I'm around the area. read more
1 month ago
This small family owned restaurant had been on my radar to check out for quite some time. I'm in the area at times for work and thought it would be an ideal place to do have lunch. The high ratings and reviews led me to trying this place with my coworkers. Unfortunately, it was an odd experience and we will not be returning. It was a Wednesday afternoon and the small gated parking lot was pretty much empty and when we entered, there was no one in there. I was concerned. But we were all there and decided to stay. A gentleman or owner was trying his best and was friendly. There was another person preparing the food. We ordered the hummus, which was served with very thin flat bread pre-wrapped in plastic. The hummus also came out in a plastic container. It was bland and the consistency was not creamy, but more watered down. Interesting, he was really pushing for us to order the yogurt appetizer. But we were not interested. We all got the lunch specials, which was a fair amount. My taste buds were not happy at all. The iceberg salad was bland and drenched with a creamy white dressing that I did not care for. Not a fan of the onion and tomato either. There was no charred flavor or seasoning to entice me to eat it. My beef koobideh was dry and bland, and not juicy at all. It seemed like the rice and meat was reheated which resulted in dry results. My coworkers got the boneless chicken kebab and chicken koobideh. They were not happy either with their food. The quality of the food reminded me of what you would get from a cafeteria or institution that mass produces food. For drinks, we went to the cooler to pick out our own soda and canned drinks. As for the service, the owner was trying to be helpful, but not exercising sanitary practices. He was trying to remove the paper from our straws for us. There was one other person who came to pick up a takeout order during the time that we were there. We would love to support small businesses, but the food quality and lackluster taste will keep us from returning. read more
7 months ago
This place is definitely a must try! We came here on a Saturday afternoon and just like one of the reviews mentioned, there was no one in there, which got us a little skeptical, but! The beef koobideh... oh man. Where to start?! it falls off when you pick it up. 10/10 Tendernism. The hummus was definitely homemade 9/10, just needs a lil more salt which is not a hard fix. The owner was very attentive and made sure to help pack our left overs. 10/10 The place was clean, and quiet. We were able to talk and enjoy our food. Don't let the location fool you, the food is a must try. read more
9 months ago
A truly authentic hole in the wall Persian restaurant. The owner was incredibly sweet and attentive, and most importantly, the food was outstanding. Everything tasted fresh, homemade, and full of care. I also love supporting a local, family-run restaurant like this. We ordered the koobideh combos, tahdig with ghormeh sabzi, and their homemade yogurt with cucumber. Both the beef and chicken koobideh were extremely juicy and packed with flavor. It's hard to find a place that serves tahdig, the crispy Persian rice, and this one was done perfectly. It paired beautifully with the ghormeh sabzi, a rich and comforting Persian herb stew. They also offer green rice made with fava beans and dill, which complemented the koobideh and stew perfectly. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and deeply flavorful. Skip Panini Kabob Grill and other chain spots and come here instead. The food is far more authentic, flavorful, and satisfying. This place is a gem! read more
This place is amazing!! The owner is super nice and sweet. I arrived at the restaurant 1130am to beat the crowd. The chicken is great! I had a different type of rice. It had potatoes and it was really. The ambiance was very chill and not over crowded at that time. Place was clean and the easy to pay. You need to try this plate. Its called lamb something read more
We just found one of the best Persian restaurants in OC. The food is very delicious and fresh. The service is fast and very attentive. They have the best tahdig and masteh moosir. The kababs are out of this world. We tried chicken, koobideh and barg! Ended our dinner with a delicious cup of cardamon tea. I highly recommend this restaurant. Look forward to our next visit. Thank you Mr Mohammad Sadeghinejad read more
6 months ago
Food is delicious. My go to is the kabob with cherry rice. Service is great. Im glad to have such an authentic persian restaurant in Santa Ana. read more
This was my second time visiting this hidden gem of a restaurant. Mohammad is truly a one-man show hardworking, kind, and always pleasant. We stopped by to grab dinner to go before heading to the lantern festival. I ordered the Salmon Kebab, and my boyfriend got the Combo Koobideh. Portions are huge, the food is delicious, and the prices are super reasonable. If you're in the area and craving Persian food, definitely give this place a try and don't forget to say hello to Mohammad! read more
1 year ago
8 months ago
Absolutely hands down my favorite New persian food Spot! Mohammed the owner has being outstanding customer service. He's so kind and humble very professional. The restaurant was super clean the food is delicious and juicy full of flavor. Way better than fancy restaurants. I loved my experience here and will be back. Look for the red and green twinkle lights if driving at night. Can't wait to bring my family here. read more
4 months ago
3 months ago
4 months ago
7 months ago
7 months ago
I'm glad we tried out this place. Definitely not for you if you're looking for fancy. This was quiet and quaint and a little old-school. Service was quick. Soda was cheaper than other places. The hummus was a little less thick than I wanted but we loved the Koobideh and the rice. The owner was very welcoming. Recognized us as Filipinos and tried tagalog words with us. He was asking if we needed more drinks and got for my husband. He was egging us to eat more like a Lolo (grampa) when you visit their house. We really enjoyed our late lunch. Btw. There was ample parking too. read more
3 months ago
Giving this 3 stars because the staff works hard, parking is easy, and the place is nice. The issue was the food freshness. Both the chicken and ground beef had that off taste and smell of meat that has been in the fridge too long and is starting to go bad. I was starving so I ate the beef and some salad, but I returned the chicken and 80% of the salad. The worker was nice and blamed the bad taste on brown onions, but it definitely tasted like old meat. He said they use the meat every morning, but who knows if their source is fresh. He gave me $5 back on a $23 tab which was a nice gesture, but I'm still out $18 for a possibly spoiled ground beef kebab and I still have to find another place to eat. I don't want to discourage others since it might have just been an off day, but something was definitely wrong with the meat today read more
10 months ago
I stumbled upon this locally-owned humble Persian restaurant after moving nearby. The owner was very friendly to me when I entered, and he even gave me some mints/candies while I waited for my order lol. I got my order to-go but there's plenty of indoor seating too. I didn't know what to get since I usually don't eat Persian food, so I stuck with the chicken kabob. I think I got the combo or plate because it came with a salad and grilled veggies. It was sooo delicious, the chicken was super flavorful and moist. I loved the grilled onions that came with it too. The hummus and naan were just okay, but I will definitely come back for the chicken kabob and try the other entree items too. Overall very sweet and friendly owner and delicious food, I'd recommend stopping by! read more
8 months ago
The food here is delicious. The owner has been here for years. I really like the chicken. They also have fun drinks ! Customer service is really good as well The ambience is nice as well. Great place to come have lunch. read more
Everything went well. This was our first time visiting this restaurant. Very quant. Mohammed the owner very kind and attentive. He made all the food. 4 plates. To be fair, he had plenty of to go orders, so service was on point. I hope he has help when this place becomes busy. We will be back! read more
I can't begin to describe how much I love this restaurant and its owner/head chef Mr.Mohammad. The Soltani combo was the best kabob dish I've had in ages with the barg skewer being some of the most tender meat I've ever had. Dont come here expecting a fancy restaurant like 99% of other Persian restaurants. This is a true hole-in-the-wall joint with excellent food and even better service. You'll literally feel like you're eating at your family's house. read more
3 months ago
10 months ago
2 months ago
11 months ago
First time here for dinner, around 7 and it was a good time not many ppl yet. Great kabobs, koobideh and chicken with pepper and grilled tomatoe and onion, yogurt and shallots was off the chain, as in great! Salad shirazi was very good too, I was impressed, went w my gf n she was also happy n impressed. Owner is awesome n friendly, good portions for sure. They also have mini plates. Very fresh n cool ambiance! I'll be back very soon! read more
I can't believe this was the first time I've been here despite living so close! My friends and I were craving some Mediterranean food and I wanted to look for a new place to check out and I found Soltani on Yelp! We came here for a late lunch on a Sunday and were greeted by the owner and (maybe) his son. They were both so kind and wonderful! The restaurant is super clean and very spacious and they have their own parking lot. It's set up as both a take out and dine-in. We sat down and the food looks sooo good! We ordered 3 plates. The beef kabob, filet mignon, and a mixed one. Wow the flavor of the beef kabob was wonderful! I could taste so many herbs and flavor in it! Filet mignon was also tender and the steak was also delish! We also got hummus and the yogurt sauce with pita. The owners were super friendly, sweet, and generous! They checked on us quite often and were so attentive! This is my new favorite go-to place for healthy yummy grilled protein and veggies! Oh, one of the unique things on their kabob plate was the grilled orange chillies! It was pretty spicy but adds so much flavor to the food! Highly recommend!!! read more
3 months ago
6 months ago
Best Persian food you'll get. The owner is very nice and hospitable. I got the two beef kobideh skewers and it was so good. Rice is flavorful and moist and the beef kobideh was cooked well. Would come again. read more
7 months ago
Delicious hole in the wall in next to an auto shop. This place is easy to miss but should be on your list for delicious Mediterranean! I ordered the #1 beef koobideh and combo chicken & beef koobideh and it was bomb! Meats were juicy and flavorful, not dry. Rice was perfectly cooked and lightly seasoned. Mr. Mohammed was nice and helpful with ordering when I entered. This place is small and they had one cook at lunch so it took about 10 minutes for to go which wasn't a problem. This place is really worth a try so I hope you check it out! read more
9 months ago
Tucked away in a shopping center I would've never noticed is my new favorite persian spot. Like you'll read in other reviews, it's quite literally a hole-in-the-wall spot with such good homemade food. Looking for a place to finally try gormeh sabzi, I found this place on Yelp and picked up some food to-go. We ordered the chicken kabob with chicken koobideh and it was so delicious and tender! When I arrived to pick up, the kindest man, the only person in the place on a weekday night, was making the food with so much care and attentiveness. We chatted about family and the restaurant as he insisted to help carry the food out to my car for me. The whole experience warmed my heart and reminded me of my own family's restaurant growing up. These are the small business I started writing Yelp reviews for, and the ones we need to take care of. read more
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More info about Soltani Restaurant
610 E 1st St
Santa Ana, CA 92701
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(714) 558-2000
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https://soltani-restaurant.cafe-inspector.com
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