We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after hearing they've been constantly harassed with hate messages/crimes -- which is so horrible and sad. The food is was great and one of my favorite spots when I'm craving middle eastern wraps- I did built your own pita so of course I like the ingredients. I loved my pita bread (it's much different from the Greek style if you haven't tried it before!) and the enjoyed the steak in particular. It had a lot of warming spices (nutmeg and cinnamon maybe?) and the flavor is pretty unique! I added bell peppers, pickled cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tahini sauce, and garlic sauce. I also got a piece of falafel - I always gotta judge a place by their falafel and this one was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside which was perfect. Next time I need to try the halloumi cheese stix with fig jam! Place was very clean and the decor was nice. I also love the Finjan coffee spot next door. read more

Tahini - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time I eat here I'm reminded why I keep coming back. The staff is also consistently warm and kind, which makes the whole experience feel good from the moment you walk in. My only real frustration is with the wait times on online orders, and it's significant enough that I have to mention it. I work 10 min away and only get a 35-40 minute break. The app consistently quotes around 20 minutes- but honestly, 20 minutes shouldn't even be necessary. I've stood there and watched them make a bowl. It takes about two minutes. Other similar restaurants have my order ready in five minutes, consistently. So when the app quotes 20 and then I still end up waiting at the 20 minute mark on top of that - in a nearly empty restaurant - something is off. Today this happened (I hit the 20 min mark with no food), and I had to go up and ask them to make my order. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's happened enough times over the years that it genuinely deters me from coming here on my break. To their credit, there was a stretch where it seemed like they had it figured out, so I know they can do it. I just wish that consistency would stick. If you're not on a time crunch, absolutely go. The food alone is worth it. But if you're relying on a quoted pickup time, build in a buffer- a bigger one than you'd think you'd need. read more

Tahini is the restaurant that shares space with Finjan coffee. The interior decor with hanging middle eastern style lanterns are quite a visual for decor. Interior and exterior seating. The staff were nice and helpful. I've only tried the Tahini fries and they were memorable; with all the exotic spices and flavors...among the best fries I've had. Worthwhile visit. Recommend read more

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How exciting! @eattahini . opening this past few Saturday in Mission Valley, right next to @finjanco Come check it out for seriously delicious eats--crispy falafels, flavorful wraps, fresh salads, and so much more. Middle Eastern comfort food dreams coming true! Run, don't walk... your weekend plans just found their flavor read more

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If you're in Kearny Mesa and craving fresh, flavorful Mediterranean food, Tahini - Kearny Mesa is definitely worth a stop while you're in San Diego. The food itself is the highlight -- everything tasted incredibly fresh and well-seasoned. The chicken shawarma was juicy and packed with flavor, the pita sandwich was hearty and satisfying, and the halloumi cheese sticks were crispy on the outside with that perfect salty chew inside. The beef sambusa was also delicious -- rich, warm, and comforting. That said, I'm docking one star purely for presentation on a dine-in experience. If you're eating in the restaurant, why is the beef sambusa served in a bag like it's takeout? It felt awkward and took away from what could have been a much nicer plated meal, especially since the food itself deserves better presentation. Overall, amazing flavors and freshness across the board -- just hoping they elevate the dine-in experience a bit more with proper plating. Still a great spot and one I'd happily return to. read more

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Kind of like a Mediterranean Chipotle style, tahini food is healthy and give HUGE portions. Youre allowed to pick x amount of toppings but I always have too many. My favorite is honestly the Halloumi Cheese Stix, the halloumi is fried so nicely and its a great item to share. The staff were super helpful and gave good recommendations. Very kind and came out fast. Theres also outdoor seating, parking, and has some of the stain glass lanterns for decor. read more

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I could eat a rice bowl from here every day. Great for people (like me) with gluten intolerance. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about gluten. It can get really busy during the lunch hour so I always order ahead. read more

I first came here years ago when it was in a much smaller space. I enjoyed it then, but I was impressed to see how much it's expanded. The store is over twice as large, and the kitchen is huge. The food is really great! The bowls are substantial and you have a lot of options for add-ons and sauces. The falafel is also very tasty too. Everything is fresh and the meat is juicy. They have a Stubborn craft soda fountain, which is cool--you don't see Stubborn so frequently. The inside has high ceilings and an open floor, giving diners a sense of spaciousness. Staff is friendly too. It's certainly worth trying out. No complaints--only praise! read more

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Food was good. Service was not good. I ordered 2 rice bowls and 3 items I requested to be in the bowl were not in my order. We also ordered a few different sauces and never got them. I ordered a side of hummus and it wasn't in my bag. I checked my receipt and didn't see it on it so obviously the person taking our order wasn't listening. I already had left with my to go bag and wasn't able to go back since I was on my lunch hour and had limited time. I guess next time I better check my order before I leave. read more

This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I got multiple meals out of our bowls. We liked how customizable the bowls were and how all the options worked together! We took it to-go, but when we ordered the staff were very kind and patient with us staring at the menu for a while. We also got a side of fries and we almost finished the bag before we even got home they were so good! The bag was very full for only being a side of fries. Highly recommend this spot for Mediterranean! read more

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Met up with a friend for a late lunch. I arrived 20 minutes early while she finished her shopping. This gave me time to soak in the uncluttered ambiance and review the simple menu. We both ordered the Choose Your Style entree. Me with the yellow basmati rice with falafel and six add-ons (max 8). My friend picked the rice with steak shawarma. The falafels I've tried before have been cooked much longer than Tahini's. What compliments the falafel here is the staff-recommended house-made tahini and the vampire-slaying fresh garlic sauce, on the side. The staff gives good recommendations on the perfect sauce/s for your order but don't be afraid to just experiment. They have six to choose from. The Miramar AirShow was ongoing so we picked the shaded long-table outside while we marvel at the perfect formations of the Blue Angels flying overhead. We had so much catching up that we didn't notice we have been talking for two hours. We continued our convos in the car then went next door for coffee which is also owned by Tahini. Read my Finjan review as well! read more

Tahini - Staff shirt. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been on a shawarma kick lately and popped into Tahini to keep that roll going. I was delighted to see they had a pita-oven and make their bread in-house. This alone, put it in the ranking for a 5-star spot. I appreciated how simple the menu was! There was plenty of options, but it was also simple. I ordered a chicken/steak bowl on a bed of greens and topped with a classic mid eastern combo of pickled cucumbers, parsley, red onion, pickled turnips, with a solid drizzle of regulars and sriracha tahini. I was SHOCKED at how enormous the bag of fries was. The fries alone could feed a group of 4! The bowl I customized was DELICIOUS! I loved the balance of fresh ingredients/greens and the meat. What a solid meal! I'm glad I tried the pita bread, but I likely won't be ordering it again as a side due to the price and because the bowl itself is plenty of food for me! The folks on the Tahini crew were so kind and their service was impeccable. They were announcing order after order, a mix of online/delivery pick-up, and in-house orders. Also, seating was aplenty, with options to sit both indoors and outside. Overall, a FANTASTIC dining experience! I can't wait to come back and visit again soon! read more

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July 13 2025- the cost has definitely went up over the past 3-4 years. But I feel its work it fir the salad you basically are choosing to add your ingredients. Always delicious & I get the garlic & cilantro tahini sauce. Forgot the cilantro this time but it's still delicious & healthy. Tried a new item I hadn't seen before sambusa they have chicken & beef. When you order the sambusa you get 3 for $7.59 or 6 for $12. I enjoy sambusas from the Indian restaurants. However these are like egg rolls in shape & unfortunately my first time trying not impressed. They were overcooked & a bit tough. Not sure if that's the norm but unfortunate for me it was my experience. The restaurant is always clean inside. Plenty of outdoor & indoor seating. Service with a smile & pleasant greeting, I ordered online to pick up on their website. Unaware there's a section you go to pick up. read more

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Love the decor - it is clean and inviting, modern with a middle eastern flair. The server was friendly and knowledgeable and the service was relatively fast. I got the OG wrap and it was absolutely delicious. The meat was perfectly seasoned, the pickled veggies were fresh, tangy (in the best possible way) and crisp, the sauce was on point and although I had hoped for more of a fluffy homemade feel of a pita, the pita they used was absolutely delicious. Will definitely return. read more

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We have been regulars for years, but the quality has been rapidly decreasing lately (ironically as prices rise and locations expand). Frequent mistakes with orders, sloppy work etc. Two times in a row my wife asked for pickled turnips but got pickles. Yesterday, we arrived 30 minutes before closing (7:30). The bowls we ordered were room temperature; fries stale; chicken lukewarm and gristly; almonds cold and burnt. It felt like the employees were getting ready to close, and just gave us the leftover stuff. The meat had already been taken off the spit; my guess is that we just got whatever chunks were still sitting there at room temp. The almonds and fries were probably from a batch made earlier and rather than fire up a new one so close to closing, they figured just throw it on there. If you stay open to 8, then keep the same quality until 8. Don't start shutting everything down at 7:30 just because you want to go home early. And don't sacrifice quality in the name of expansion. This used to be a great local spot, but as is often the case, the allure of more locations and revenues has the owners focusing their attention elsewhere. read more

Tahini - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I purchased the rice bowl with beef shawarma. I am honestly very disappointed with the amount I got as the small bowl was ful of rice and veggies with approximately 1 table spoon of shawarma cost me $20. This is a rip off as we are not stopping by to get the rice we are there for the marinated shawarma. Very cheap style and gready. Makes me never want to go back. read more

Tasty falafel. Customized the way you want it with so many choices. I placed an order on the Yelp app and it was ready when I got here. The parking lot is a little hectic but there's plenty of outdoor seating once you're parked. I have to say that the falafel itself was a little dry and the pita fell apart, but otherwise this was super tasty and I loved the turnips and pickles. read more

Tahini - Very delicious falafel Pita Sandwich with my choice of fillings - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing pita! The serving size is great for your buck! A little slow to prepare if you go during a high demand time, but at least you know it's freshly prepared food! Fun interior with pop music. Cannot wait to go again. My only complaint would be the falafel is not the greatest. read more

LUNCH OBSESSION (5 stars) What a hidden gem! Think customizable Middle Eastern. Middle Eastern food - if unfamiliar with the type of cuisine has similarities with Mediterranean. Just know, ITS SO GOOD. This place slaps. I've had a couple colleagues suggest this place to me since it's close to the office - since I'm remote/hybrid but coming onsite more often, this is easily becoming my go-to place if I didn't bring a lunch. 1. Pick your style 2. Pick your protein 3. Pick add-on sauce and (6) free sides 4. ORDER an extra side of their PITA BREAD CHICKEN SHAWARMA BOWL - I picked the rice bowl because I love yellow basmati rice. I picked the chicken shawarma. I picked cilantro tahini sauce and lettuce, tomato, red onion, pepperoncini, pickled turnips, pickled cucumbers. More sides the better! Add the sauce and mix it all up! The chicken shawarma is so flavorful and thinly sliced. All the ingredients combined and at every bite my pallet is filled with citrus, herbal, spicy, and an abundance of flavors. I can't get enough of this place. HIGHLY RECOMMEND EXTRA SIDE OF PITA BREAD - their pita bread is made super fresh. It has a nice texture, fluffy, and warm. Other places their pita bread hardens quickly, theirs lasted a little longer. Really good pita bread. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Until the next review.... read more

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Good pita pocket spot in the Clairmont Mesa area and benefits from a great Middle Eastern coffee shop right next door. The halloumi with the fig jam was the highlight for me and the service was very friendly. read more

Tahini - Halloumi - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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First timer. I'm a riverside native and this spot was recommended by my cousin and it was exceptional. The quality of the chicken and beef was top tier, the rice was cooked to perfection, each piece is its own piece, not soggy nor dry. The toppers were great, the parsley mix, red onion, and lettuce. All in all, the meal was just what I was hoping for. The restaurant is extremely clean, staff very well trained and courteous, and ran into the owners, quite nice and welcoming. Highly recommend for a quick, fresh, and clean bite, with something that will remind you of a home cooked meal. read more

Tahini - Did not get a before pic, but the after, was a completely empty bowl. Highly recommend - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

First time here and the guy working the front was very friendly and patient in explaining the menu. I opted for a build your own with the steak shawarma and my bf got the special that Guy Fieri tried when he visited. Both were really good! Fresh ingredients and completely customizable. The white garlic sauce (possibly toum?) was 10/10. The interior is clean and modern. I pointed out one thing about my visit and they have great customer service! They really want to make sure everyone enjoys their visit. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Fully impressed with my first visit here. I mean talk about a clean environment, with great food, and the service was solid this is it. I can't appreciate when a menu gets narrowed down like this one and it's order what we make well. I did a bowl with a ton of toppings. This is the place where you go to eat healthy and still get the flavor to back it up. No one they were notably mentioned on the internet. Hope you get a chance to enjoy this place like I did. Cheers! read more

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Can't believe I just realized today that I have never written a review for Tahini, which is one of my favorite casual places. Everything I've ever ordered here has been stellar. Tahini starts with really fresh ingredients - even baking their own pitas everyday (WOW!), alongside friendly service. I'm a fan of the falafel, chicken schwarma, hummus bowl, fries and their tasty garlic sauce. Fortunately, it's close by the YMCA I frequent, and makes a perfect post-workout meal stop. Additionally, when my Grandma was in the hospital at Kaiser, I came here frequently for a healthy meal and a chance to decompress from all the stress. Tahini feels like a home away from home and I love it. read more

Tahini - Chicken schwarma - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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After all the rave reviews, I was having some high expectations on how good the falafel was going to taste. Today I finally made a takeout order of the cucumber salad and six piece falafel. The falafel was disappointing and not very crunchy or flavorfull. Good falafel IMO is crunchy on the outside, and moist on the inside. This was a bit dry on the inside and not full of flavors like parsley and mint. They give it a distinct taste. I would give it max 7 out of 10. The cucumber salad was OK and the homemade pita bread certainly makes a difference when it's warm. Not sure I'll be coming back here again as I'm very particular about Middle Eastern food and I know what I like and what I don't like. I'm guessing that maybe there's Shawarma is fantastic and they have other good plates there aside from what I ordered. read more

Stopped in for lunch on a Thursday with my best friend and we both really enjoyed Tahini! They were busy but the line moved fairly quickly. They have a large menu on the wall behind the register or you can walk up and grab a hand held menu to check out while in line. The girl that helped us was so nice! We wanted to do 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad mix and were super happy when she said that was possible! We were even happier to learn that you can do 1/2 and 1/2 on the proteins as well! The food was really fresh and flavorful and I felt like they gave a good amount for the cost. There was a lot of seating inside and some out door tables as well. We will definitely be back!! read more

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We're in Kearny Mesa for a thing and my wife says, hey, I've been wanting to check this place out. I'm a little surprised. It's not East Asian, it looks kinda Instagram-ish, and it's in an ugly stretch of KM. But I say sure. We walk over through some shitty weather. So glad I did. This is a place that does middle eastern street/fast food right. I was admittedly heartened when I saw that I was the only honky in the place (always a good sign) and several hijabis animatedly chatting while they shared some of the starters. We ordered exclusively off the starters menu. Now everyone does a "fries with ethnic toppings" option and it's hard to mess that up, but they nail it. Great sauce, olives, cheese, perfectly crisp falafel. The shawarma sambusas are shaped more like egg rolls but I'm not gonna complain, also delicious. Fried halloumi sticks, also great. Loved all the sauces too. They also have that microbrew soda that's not coke, I forgot the brand but it's good. Price was nice, people working there as well. You're spoiled for choice in KM. Saying you should stop by this place is not nothing. read more

Okay so a friend of mine and I were driving around looking for a craving that would hit the spot. Every now and again it's time for a cheat meal which honestly this could still be considered fairly healthy. The lights they had outside were what caught my eye since it was during the evening. The gentleman who rung us up was phenomenal. I was torn between getting a bowl and a sandwich because I wanted to try the rice. He let me know i was able to mix two items together. He truly took his time to walk us through as well as provide recommendations. The food was sooo good and the pita my goodness. This would be a go to place for me to try everything else on the menu if I lived close enough. read more

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First timer and will definitely be back! I originally walked in just to check the place out, but Kareem was so welcoming and took the time to walk me through the menu since it was my first visit. He was very knowledgeable about the menu, and after hearing his recommendations, I knew I had to try something. I went with the hummus bowl with steak shawarma and it was absolutely delicious! Definitely adding this spot to my list of go-to places. read more

Tahini is middle eastern eats at their finest! bowls, wraps and apps are on offer. the haloumi is tasty but the spring roll like apps are a tad salty. the bowls are tasty with a good mix of greens and shawarma. read more

Went there last night with a friend. I got the falafel pita and fries. The servings were huge! They were so good. You have a choice between falafel, chicken or steak. Then you can decide if you want a pita, bowl or salad. My friend got the egg rolls and said they were amazing. They also have the Stubborn Sodas which I love. I'm the restaurant was incredibly clean and the service was great. Plenty of parking. Definitely going back! read more

Tahini - Falafel pita and fries - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped by today for a chicken pita and it took 1/2 an hour to get my sandwich. The people preparing the food are too slow. The cashier was very helpful and friendly. She is the one who handed me my food. I also, ordered three different sauces for the pita sandwich and none of the sauces were put in the pita. It was dry without the sauces. I started coming here when they first opened and they were a lot faster preparing the orders for their customers. They even made sure I received the sauces I ordered. Both the food and the service has gone down hill. It's disappointing. I took one star off for each of the sauces I did not receive. read more

This is probably the best falafel I've ever had. The rest of the bowl was pretty good, but pretty small for the cost. I spent $19 out the door for a rice bowl which is too expensive for me to consider coming back because of the size of the bowl. The restaurant is very busy and loud during the lunch rush so try to order ahead or you'll have to wait for most of your lunch break.. Overall, pretty good food but not worth the price for me. read more

Tahini - Rice Bowl, Falafel 3 Piece - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm obsessed with this place. The food is SO fresh, made to order. The service is always great, order is always correct and comes out fast. I am always impressed with my food. The flavors are amazing. You can't go wrong, perfect lunch gem. My only suggestion is to run the AC in the summer because it's steamy inside when trying to eat... not sure how the employees are working with it so warm in there. Food tho 10/10!!! read more

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Son brought me here for lunch takeout and it was amazing. Place was incredibly crowded which speaks to the quality and flavor. Great shawarma. read more

It's probably the best shawarma ii have ever had. I have never gotten food here and so I didn't know how to order. The representative was very patient and made sure I included everything that I wanted. The place was clean and plenty to to sit. I'll visit again read more

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First time trying and not impressed. What pissed me off the most was each order was totally screwed up. I asked for sauce in each bowl and literally no sauce. You know how dry and boring the bowl is with no sauce. The beef shawarma was dry and bland. I'm so upset after paying over 50 bucks for 3 bowls that were so unsatisfying. Luckily I asked for 2 sauces on the side but they were soooo tiny. My sister n law just had a baby and I brought them the food and they were very unimpressed. Would never return again. We are both just sitting eating just because we are hungry but so upset that we are not enjoying at all. read more

Tahini - I can make better at home and for much less. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh how I love Tahini. I have been ordering Tahini on the reg for work lunches. I can't tell you how yummy the bowls are. I love the create your own bowls. My go-to is the chicken. Comes with rice and all of the best toppings/veggies and sauces. I also like the falafel. I am already looking forward to ordering again. Highly recommend!!! read more

This was my first time at TAHINI Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food Restaurant located on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and had the most delicious sandwich called, "The Esquire Pita," with chicken shawarma pita, stuffed with French fries, parsley mix, tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, with garlic and sriracha tahini. The pita bread was baked on the spot. The restaurant has fruit flavor soda and juice fountain. I absolutely enjoyed the mango lemonade drink with my pita sandwich. I paid $19 for pita sandwich and drink..yikes! But it was worth the experience. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant was very clean and the employees were very friendly and welcoming. Give it a try! Happy Yelping :) read more

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AMAZING!! we came back twice during our time in San Diego . We spoke to the owner who was very friendly. The first time we came it was PERFECT nothing misplaced every bite was flavorful. I got the esquire and mom got the salad bowl. There was some rice in her bowl which she didn't want but the flavors were amazing. The siracha tahini was very spicy so she didn't order it again but everything was great. We ordered 1/2 meat 1/2 chicken and best decision ever! We got a side of fries which were the best fries we've ever had!!!!!! Very clean place and nice decoration read more

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