Tahini is the perfect mix of great food, eye catching decor and fun vibes! Came down here with some friends for lunch. The menu is filled with healthy food from chicken and beef. Shawarma and bowls, fries, coffee, unique sodas and deserts. The venue is warm and bright. Beautiful tiles, window cutouts and absolutely gorgeous Middle Eastern lanterns hanging from the ceiling in every color. I ordered the beef Shawarma bowl with half salad half rice and it was delicious. The fries here are really good too, and if you're looking for a unique strong cup of coffee, definitely check out the coffee bar and grab a baklava while you're at it. The prices are very reasonable and there is plenty of free parking. You can eat indoors or out on their patio to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather. The owner is super kind and welcoming. They have two other locations in La Jolla and Kearny Mesa too, so check them out! read more

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I've tried Finjan, their coffee place, but last night was my first time trying their food. The cashiers and cooks were extremely sweet and patient. It wasn't very busy at the time, but they explained the whole menu since we hadn't been there. Then I asked them about wheat, soy, and egg allergies. I hadn't seen the vegan sign (on most things), but you can't always trust those in some restaurants. (They do have dairy in some things as shown.) The cook came up to take the order to try to answer any allergy questions. He was texting either his boss or the owner to insure he was correct about the ingredients. There is NO egg in the restaurant!!! Do you know how rare that is? This is an excellent place for food allergies! He said the falafel was in a separate fryer and shouldn't have wheat either. I didn't have a reaction, but I am on an injection that would make them less so. If you have a severe wheat allergy, you should still double check. They did use soybean oil in the rice, and possibly the chicken (idr), but that is okay for me. No soybean protein otherwise in what I ordered. I ordered a rice bowl with chicken shawarma. I got the garlic sauce, tatziki, and cilantro sauce (on the side). Toppings were as follows: banana peppers, kalamata olives, parsley mix, onions, lettuce, tomato. Feta is +.50, and I had some at home so I just added my own since it was take out. I would totally recommend this combo to anyone! It was so delicious. Initially I didn't like the cilantro tahini sauce on it's own, but when I dipped some rice/chicken in it--chefs kiss! The cilantro tahini adds a rich depth to the flavor. I also was not overly impressed with a chicken bite on it's own, but WITH all of the other goodies, it was excellent. The ingredients are fresh, minimally processed food. The basmati rice looked like authentic middle eastern rice that I could get from a friend's house, with a true turmeric hue. The one thing I didn't like was the pickled turnips. Luckily he put them on the side for me to try. They tasted like a very mild beet and I'm not a beet fan. They were very long slices like a french fry and if you enjoy earthy turnip/beat flavors then I would definitely suggest you get them! I also ordered a side of falafel. I can't have the pita, so he gave me two little things of tzatziki instead. I found I only needed one after all. The falafel is really good. It is less spiced than some I've had, but the texture was so fluffy and fresh tasting. It reminded me of the very first falafel I had, in Italy of all places. I was kind of comparing this to Kebab Shop in my head because that was always our go to "fast food", but the location in Mission Valley was so terrible that I haven't been back. It doesn't taste anything like that place because this place uses real ingredients and they don't taste pre-made or like a corporation that's trying to get the cheapest, most salty tastes for Americans. I would say the falafel are better at Tahini because they are fluffier, bigger, and not hard balls. IIRC there are a bit more spices and salt in the KS ones. I would prefer to get them here from now on, though I'm not sure if the price is right if you don't get the pita, but maybe Tahini can work on a GF option in the future. TLDR: Great for food allergies; fresh, real ingredients; Mediterranean fusion; make sure you get the parsley mix as a topping. It has onions and a pomegranate molasses which is delicious. We will definitely be back. The inside is very nice and they have a huge outdoor seating section too. We will try eating in next time. read more

We decided to give another Guy Ferrari recommendation a try. Cashier was very welcoming and helped us go over the menu. What we ordered; * 1 Pita Sandwich - 1/2 Chicken 1/2 Steak * 1 Pita Sandwich - Steak Our food came out quickly. We had asked for our pita sauces on the side. Which our cashier verified was an option. Regretfully they were put inside of our pitas (3 sauces each). Unfortunately we were unable to then tell which flavor we preferred..... The hubby said his steak pita was on the dry side. I'd have to agree. The chicken part of my pita was a lot better. Not sure if we'll be visiting again. We've had better experiences elsewhere. However, we at least gave them a try. read more

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Where do I start? Amazing customer service, unique and wonderful food offerings as well as beverages, ambience, galore on the inside, beautiful serving ware and cutlery. Went with a friend and we shared two of the toasts: Labne and Favs Bean. So good! Tried a sample of Zatar croissant that was out for tastings and my friend bought some to take home. Also, the coffee was so amazing. We were too full for dessert, but I came back with my son just a few days later and had the knafeh... takes 10 minutes but so worth it! The only tiny drawback is the outdoor seating area, which although quite expensive is rather mundane compare compared to the interior. Also, they have more of a full service food restaurant in the back that opens a little bit later in the day with pita, build your own bowl, Shawarma and then some read more

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We came in to give there Pita sandwiches a try. My wife got the chicken and steak, I got only the steak. We selected sauce on the side. Apparently they put the sauce inside. The chicken was better. I tried the steak very dry. Had the same at other places and it was far better. Sad when your fountain drink was the highlight of your meal. read more

Tahini - His and hers - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

We had a nice lunch at Tahini today. We sat outside and enjoyed our generously portioned bowls very much. I had chicken shawarma and M. had beef shawarma. Both bowls were lovely to look at and even better to eat. We splurged and had drinks today instead of our usual waters! :) M. enjoyed his lemonade I enjoyed a mix of Stubborn Pineapple and Vanilla cream soda. They are delicious! I'm not typically a soda drinker, so when I do occasionally indulge in specialty sodas, it really is such a treat. Service was efficient and friendly. For two bowls and two drinks and a small tip, this meal cost us nearly $50, so it was a little pricey which means we can't go here all of the time, but it is my second favorite Shawarna place in San Diego, so I'll come here as much as I can! :) Peace. read more

Tahini - Chicken Shawarma Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tahini has officially become one of my go-to lunch spots! I've eaten here 4 times this month alone. I always order the chicken shawarma pita and it is SOOO delicious. Packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and they definitely do not skimp on the protein. I also love that you get to build your own meal and customize everything exactly how you like it. The interior is clean, simple, and welcoming, with plenty of shared parking which is always a plus in Mission Valley. They also have a nice outdoor patio if you want to sit outside. Easy 5 stars from me! read more

Tahini - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is Delicious Walking in for the first time I felt a little skeptical about this place. As soon as you walk in the screen to order is in front I guess I was looking for pictures of the food items. lol. The inside looks clean. The person that took my order was friendly and made ordering easy. I ordered a bowl with rice chicken and a mix of vegetables. The food came out quick. Cost $17.17. The food was delicious. Definitely going back. The food came out quick. I ate in the car. read more

Tahini - Chicken bowl with vegetables - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Middle Eastern street food shop Tahini has opened up a second shop in Mission Valley serving fresh fare in a well lit space with a multitude of colorful lamps adorned across its ceiling. SERVICE Patrons order on a screen or in person at the counter. Staff calls out patron names for pickup at the counter. MUNCHIES / APPETIZERS 5/5 SAMBUSA (3 piece, beef): Crunch and savory egg roll wrap, stuffed with shawarma beef. Garlic sauce pairs very well with this. read more

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So ordering is via a screen as you walk in. It was easiest enough but I prefer a person. There is also only 1 screen. I ordered rice bowl with beef, feta, pepercini, and pickled cucumber. It was really good and flavorful. I loved the rice. I also got the cheese sticks and they were amazing. So nutty. I also got these beef filled eggroll type things. I don't remember the name, but they're not listed on the online menu. They were really good and crispy and the meat was very flavorful. The location has lots of indoor and outdoor seating There's also a coffee shop attached with amazing Turkish coffee Parking is off Street and plentiful Had almost no interaction with the staff due to the computer ordering and getting it to go Very peacefully decorated, and the food was good. Definitely a good location for large groups. read more

Tahini - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

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While driving down to San Diego to attend the HFA convention, we stopped by Tahini Street Food to get a bite to eat. When we walked in, we saw all the tray of bread baked. The place is nice and clean inside. Great vind read more

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IG: rs.Albright TikTok: m.Albright This food was amazing!! It was light and airy. I didn't feel bad after eating it and it was really flavorful. I enjoyed how you can customize it to your liking. The customer service was great as well! They were so helpful when I was asking questions. I would definitely come back! Also their drink options are nice. The strawberry lemonade was sooo good! read more

Tahini - Pita Sandwich, Rice Bowl, Fries Side - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

I walked over here to have lunch after picking up my coffee from Finjan next door. It's clean inside and they had some nice lamps hanging down from the ceiling, giving it that middle eastern touch. The man at the front was very welcoming, helped us with our order and even gave us some extra sauces for our food. The food was really good. As a middle eastern myself, I'm very picky with falafel and these were some of the best I've had. read more

Tahini - Tahini Fries Full Order Falafel 6 Piece - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Freshest food! Love how big and fresh those bowls were! Literally looked like the veggies were just picked! Very shareable and perfect amounts and pricing. read more

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Tahini always offers a great meal. Since they opened in Clairemont, they have been offering consistent quality food with great service. This new location in Mission Valley was no different. For lunch, I had the chicken shawarma served in Tahini's house made pit bread and an order of three falafels. The chicken shawarma was well seasoned and tender. I had them put tomatoes, black olives, lettuce, onions, and feta in the pita. They were all fresh and tasted great in the pita. The pita bread was fantastic. It's a blend of wheat and white flour which not only gives it a great consistency but great flavor as well. The falafels herbaceous and delicious. They had that great crisp exterior and soft inviting center. They were great eating with Tahini's side sauces. The yogurt base sauce was delicious. The service was inviting and informative. I like the way they give the run of the menu and options if you have questions. There is a good amount of inside seating and plenty of outside seating. read more

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I just love love love the bread!!! Best Pita in all San Diego, for sure!!! Two locations, the other is on Clairmount. Great parking. Excellent Coffee and nice folks all around. Generous portions and easy on your wallet. read more

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I ordered off a computer menu at this place instead of at the counter like I normally would at any other restaurant. I figured it was more convenient to choose what I wanted to eat instead of figuring it out off a menu on the wall. The chicken shawarma bowl was pretty good, though I think I'm going to have to lay off the garlic sauce. I ordered too much of it. But I asked for light salt on the side of fries and I got it so that was cool. $26 for a rice bowl and fries is a bit much though. read more

I am so happy to say this place has been very consistent. All of their food is really good. We always go for the bowls but next time I will try the actual Shawarma. You can get a rice bowl or salad bowl and add chicken and steak and all the toppings. Definitely get the falafel and fries as a side as they're both very well made They're very generous with their sauces you can order different flavors to try. I love the cilantro tahini. read more

Tahini - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was good, quality just like the Clairemont Mesa location. When I went it was super empty so there was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It was a bit of a wait to get the food which was surprising given it was not busy at all, but overall not too bad. read more

So excited to hear tahini opened up in mission valley! They're in the same plaza as Food4Less across from hazard center, so lots of parking. Their food is always super fresh and filling. Ordered online for really easy pickup. Staff were super welcoming and quick. Lots of seating inside and also a pretty big patio area. I love that they are connected to Finjan coffee too. read more

Tahini - 1/2 salad 1/2 rice bowl with chicken and falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here after getting coffee from Finjan, and at first I didn't noticed this was right next door. Glad I went to check it out. I got the rice bowl with chicken... the shawarma rice bowl was so damn good! Very flavorful with the sauces and toppings I picked out too. The man taking my order said I could even add any amount of sauces so I did a couple of mixes. Though I wished afterwards that I got extra of the sauces because they were just so good! What's good about this spot is the amount of seating available and because it's shared vicinity to Food4Less there's a lot of parking too. The lamp decors are beautiful and service was good. I probably waited just 5 minutes after ordering since it wasn't busy. Also it was pretty simple to build your order. read more

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Super helpful and nice staff. Knew which ingredients were gluten free or not. Gave us recommendations on the menu. Food was delicious and prepared quickly. A note that the olives and pickled turnips are quite salty - husband said next time he would get one or the other instead of both so his bowl wasn't so salty. Restaurant was clean as well. read more

Tahini - Rice Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious fresh food. I loved my falafel pita sandwhich. Great decor for the vibes and plenty of seating for both the restuarant and the cafe that they share the space with. Workers were friendly and helpful. read more

Tahini - Pita Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm so glad I finally got to try this place. It recently opened up in mission valley and I have been wanting to go try it and I was not disappointed! I got a make you own bowl and chose half salad and half rice as the base and falafel as my protein. Their falafel is SO GOOD. It had a crispy outside and the inside was moist, it is so hard to find good falafel but the search is over! Their falafel is a must try. The bowls were a little pricey for the size but you can tell the ingredients were quality and fresh! Plus I was so full before I even finish my bowl. At this place, once you arrive, you go to the counter to order and then your name is called when your order is ready. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. There was so much seating, for large and small parties. We ended up sitting in the covered patio outside and I loved that they had an intercom that let you know when your food was ready. They also have reverse osmosis filtration system so the water was very good. read more

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Yay to a new Tahini location right by my office! I placed an online order for pickup and I was able to immediately walk to the to go area to grab my bag of food. Parking isn't too hard to navigate at this location. I got a rice bowl with chicken and most of the toppings and sauces they will allow. It was very tasty and I appreciate the unique options like pickled radishes and cucumbers. I think the price is a smidge steep for lunch, but I finished my entire bowl. read more

Tahini - Chicken rice bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

I was so hungry but didn't want the usual Asian, Mexican or American so I just happened to be in the area and glad that tried Tahini! It has a small shop vibe but it shares space with the coffee shop so you get best of both worlds. I like the menu being simple so you know you're getting good stuff! The service was great and the pita(you can get a bowl or salad instead) I got was loaded with pickled radishes and other pickles which I love. Service was great as well, food came out fast and the chef recommended sauces which I appreciated. Definitely will be coming back. read more

Tahini - Shawarma pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Response to owner reply: the review is not harsh it is truthful. Good customer service, ridiculously small portion for the price you charge (with a photo of the bowl attached to the review not full to prove my point). Point blank period. And to add, the food should be flavorful without having to add all the sauces. I didn't touch much on that in my original review to try to be fair to you but simply put the food is pretty bland on its own. If you consider that harsh then you can add more flavor so that can't be said and fill the bowls so no one can say the portions are skimpy. Simple. To sum it up, again, Not worth the price. Original review: Decided to come back to Tahini after a few years when I used to be a regular before the prices got out of hand for the portions. Came here because Chipotle's registers were down. Well, I regret it. It is simply not worth $20 ($17.72) to be exact. I got this chicken bowl (not even filled to the top). And the flavor is meh. I don't mind that as much because I wanted something simple but yea... this isn't it. Next time I'll just do the online order at chipotle. The extra star is because the customer service was really good. But otherwise, just not worth it. read more

Tahini - Chicken bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

When you have a good thing, you keep it going--and Tahini does exactly that. Our first visit to @tahini at #3 Hazards Center was everything we hoped for and more. The menu is just as delicious as ever--fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with the same genuine smiles and warm hospitality that make Tahini feel like a neighborhood favorite. The attention to service and cleanliness really stands out, creating a space that feels both inviting and comfortable. And the bonus? The extra outdoor space is perfect for private events, gatherings, or simply enjoying a great meal in the open air. Consistent quality, great people, and an atmosphere that keeps getting better--Tahini continues to set the standard. read more

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What acute storefront - note that they share space with finjan coffee in the Food 4 Less shopping area. Plenty of parking. I love the decor and everything is spotless. I can definitely see this place as a grab and go or just having a nice simple lunch or meet up with your friends. There's ample seating and light. I would totally come here again. It comes out to about $15 a pita The menu seems at first quite daunting, but it's actually really simple if pick a meat, the style of your meal in addition to all the toppings or sauces that go with it. You can add up to eight toppings or additions to your meal on top of three different sauces. Staff was super helpful and friendly with navigating the menu with you and making some suggestions if you're overwhelmed. They do have three in house ready to go pita recipes as well. I like the chicken pita, which was huge. If getting your pizza to go, be sure to rotate it so you can find the opening! The chicken meat was soft and tender, and not dry. Quite flavorful. Steak was nice and juicy as well but I think the chicken is better. Regarding salad option, you can also do half salad and half rice, which is not on the menu. Regarding the sauces : if you like a little bit of medium heat I suggest getting the Sriracha tahini, which is not spicy at all but only a mild kick towards the end. There is a red spicy sauce that you need to ask for that I didn't really see on the menu. To me the cilantro sauce, and the cucumber dip sauce were essentially the same and a bit plain. The garlic sauce is a little bit on the thicker side, but that is is consistent with other Mediterranean places as well. Regarding the additions/toppings -There's an option for pickled turnips instead of the normal pickled onions and there's an option to add pepperoncini's for those spice heads! read more

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My favorite falafels in SD. Fresh great flavor. Can't ask for anything more. Try it with different sauces to see which one is the best combo read more

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Just grabbed a couple Pita sandwiches from Tahini and we loved them. Unique sauces, quality food and friendly staff. Happy to have this spot in Mission Valley, we will definitely be back soon! read more

Came to try the Coffee at Finjan and to my surprise see that we have ourselves a 2 for 1 location. While my knowledge on middle eastern food is limited the flavors I experienced here have me scheduling a return SOON. The service was quick and all staff are friendly and polite. There is also a way to skip the line if there is one and order of a Kiosk and CH-CHING you can earn rewards while enjoying your meal and a satisfying price. Inside was nice and quites. The bathrooms were well maintained and there is also a patio area where you can eat outside and enjoy sunny San Diego's great weather. I enjoyed every bite and will recommend and return. read more

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Got it catered at work and it was so so good! Big fan of this place, best mediterranean fast casual ever! The pita sandwiches are something else. The mission valley location is beautiful! Highly recommend read more

Family and I loved it. Incredibly well done concept and flavors were authentic. Friendly staff and beautiful seating area. Highly recommended. read more

Stopped by Tahini before heading to the airport. The beef shawarma sandwich was amazing and I loved the red turnip pickles. Honestly one of the best Mediterranean spots we tried in San Diego. It's connected to Finjan, so you can grab great coffee before or after. The owner was very kind and patient, the place was super clean, and the lemon berry acai soda was so good it didn't even feel like a soda. read more

Tahini - The OG - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was the worst experience, there is a young kid working at the front and it appeared the manager was an older lady. My food was 40 dollars total, I gave a 100 dollar bill and they told me they don't have change, what business doesn't have 60 dollars of change in their register??? Because of that the older lady told me to walk across the street to food for less in the heat and get change for a 100 and turned down my business. Very unprofessional. In every business the register should always have change read more

I had been to the other location a few times and was excited when I saw they were opening one by my work. Got a chicken shawarma pita, food was good, staff were friendly and the place was clean. Definitely will be back. read more

Tahini - Custom chicken shawarma pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Diego, California

Beautiful new location in Mission Valley. Food is great! The service is BEYOND EXCELLENT. Cute coffee shop in the back. P.s. Let's make the Esquire into a bowl read more

We ordered the chicken shawarma and the falafel in pita. We also tried the various sauces and the hummus. All the food was fresh and very tasty. Pretty ambiance was apparent. Great service from Moody! Happy to have tried this new spot! Will be back...very soon! read more

Beautiful ambience. Very friendly staff. Food is delicious. Many great options. Love the Middle Eastern coffee shop aspect connected to the place. They serve good coffee as well. Wish it was a touch cheaper, but that's the way it is. Would return in a pinch. read more