First of all we were Hosted by Sara very nice explanations on the wide variety of dishes offered. super clean establishment. fast service but not rushed. we got a Sharmawa to go for our road trip back to LA all for 35 bucks. read more

I came with my friend here the music was nice where your able to talk and Sara the waitress was very attentive and welcoming she makes great smoothies this is a good place to come enjoy some great food. read more

Our Server was Sara. She was Friendly and a Professional. She was very helpful guilding us through the menu. 10 out of 10. The good was good and the prices are very affordable. read more

مطعم راقي اكل طيب خدمة راقية راح نرجع اكيد شكرا الكم I love them We have lunch and we loved it read more

Service was good but I got food poisoning here. I was recommended the roasted chicken plate when I was deciding. It came with rice and I think a side salad (according to the receipt) but we may have been short on that as my group also ordered plates. We didn't figure out who did or did not have salads and the waitress who spoke very little English, couldn't help when we asked. Water is bottled and costs extra. Food was good when I was eating it but soon felt a little unwell. I ended up having diarrhea back home and woke up around 3 am sweaty. At 4 am, I woke up again, having to rush to the bathroom to vomit. I continued vomiting for over an hour. This was the only meal I had that day aside from individually wrapped snacks (granola, etc) that my entire group shared. I ended up trashing the leftovers I brought home. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Roasted chicken plate that gave me food poisoning - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Two stars because unfortunately, this place left me feeling more meh-diterranean than Mediterranean. Called ahead with a few questions and got hung up on after a hello and some mumbling. This happened twice. We came for the Sunday buffet and honestly, it was just okay... Some dishes were labeled, others weren't, so there was definitely some guessing involved. The food itself lacked flavor and that little something that makes Mediterranean food so good. The meats were especially dry, with the chicken being the biggest culprit. Service wasn't much warmer. We weren't greeted when we walked in, and once someone noticed us, the interaction felt purely transactional. No smiles, no "welcome," just pay and proceed. Also, there's one large bathroom with multiple sinks but no stalls. The wait to use it was sooooo looooong. TikTok gave me high hopes for this restaurant and unfortunately the algorithm betrayed me. read more

Our experience tonight Thursday march 26, 8pm. Very disappointing experience all around -- both the food and the service. We ordered two shawarma sandwiches (chicken and meat) and a falafel plate. The chicken shawarma was extremely dry with barely any pickle -- just a hint on either side of the sandwich. The meat shawarma was undercooked and still red inside, and completely flavorless. Both sandwiches came with a salad that was drowning in lemon and had hardly any salt. We also noticed the tahini sauce that came with the beef shawarma tasted spoiled. When we tried to flag the bad tahini to our server, she couldn't be bothered to walk over -- she just talked to us from behind the counter (which was at least 10 feet away). When she finally reluctantly came to grab it, she took it to the chef window and then gestured from a distance at us that it was fine and never brought us a replacement. On top of all that the falafel plate never came out at all. We went up to pay, and when we told the girl at the register, her response was just "Oh, they didn't bring it out" -- zero apology, zero accountability, as if it had nothing to do with her even though she was our server. No "I'm sorry," no "we'll do better next time." Nothing. We won't be returning. We do not recommend at all. read more

The place underwent new ownership since I last visited. This time around was so much better. Ordered chicken and beef shawarma and they come with a side of fries. Very large portions and the service was great. The lady that took our order was very friendly! read more

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The First Time I Came Here Was In June. Unsure Of What To Order I Asked Our Welcoming Hostess Dano What To Order. We Ordered Beef Tikka & It Was Soooo Tender & Juicy ‍. Tonight I Tried Their Falafel, A Bit Skeptical But It's Perfect! I Also Ordered A Beef Shawarma Because I Wanted Meat. Dano Remembered Me From Last Time & Has Been The Sweetest Most Welcoming Hostess Ever! The Chef Yahia Cooked The Dishes Perfectly . The Homemade Tea Is Also Great As Well! I Highly Recommend This Place For The Amazing Seasoned Food & Beautiful Decor. I Will Forever Come Here From Now On. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Beef Shawarma, Seasoned Fries & Tahini Sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

$70 and really was not great. Lamb shank was soft for the most part but lacked seasoning/good flavor. Rice is over 'seasoned' (nutmeg/cinnamon?) yet unflavorful. Personally prefer a more Arab style rice-- ghee/butter, fluffy or even something with yellow raisins (sweet contrast) or pine nuts... anything. Shawarma wrap was basic, ate some of it but meat was spongy, no flavor. Okay priced for $12. -- Tried hard to find anything in my fridge to make it taste better, salt, tahini, harissa, labne.. They forgot to give me a side I ordered that could have made our meals taste better. Door Dash only offers DD credit for missing items. Original pickup quote, 35mins, was not ready when I arrived (after notified it was ready), but they pieced it together at 44mins. The inside looked bright- they have a side patio that seemed nice in the nighttime hot El Cajon weather. It was busy which I get, just would have liked the order to be complete. Customer service was nice- employees are the front were great/friendly. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Highly recommend this place, it's me and my coworkers go to for lunch when we're in the mood for good Mediterranean

Very clean excellent customer service, very friendly and the food is amazing thank you Ghaidaa you were absolutely wonderful and your smile just brightens anyone's day. It was a wonderful experience read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Lamb and steak - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Excellent variety and quality of Middle Eastern Cuisine!! Service was quick and helpful and the Ambiance was warming. There are overwhelming choices and best to try each one at small amounts and find what you like. The desserts are also all amazing!! read more

The owner was wonderful, the servings were plentiful. He recommended a smaller portion for us to share, and we still took leftovers home to enjoy later! Our dinner had very nice flavor and the dessert was a delicious new experience for us! read more

I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant. The staff members were friendly and tried to help, but the manager was extremely rude. The biggest issue was the food. The chicken was undercooked and tasted overwhelmingly like raw garlic, making it unpleasant to eat. We also accidentally ran into some friends at the restaurant and ended up sitting together. Later, we discovered that a 15% gratuity had been automatically added to our bill because our group exceeded five people. No one informed us about this beforehand, which was frustrating. Overall, the friendly staff were the only positive part of the experience. Between the undercooked food, poor flavor, the manager's attitude, and the unexpected service charge, I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

A recent lunch at Tarbosh provided a mixed experience. While the Mini Combo offered ample, standard fare, the hummus was notably bland. Service was efficient but impersonal, there were only three other tables while we were there. Parking is available in front of the restaurant read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Tarbosh Mini Combo | ميني كومبو طربوش - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is an easy 5 star review for me to write because the food is delicious and such a great value . Their special for $7.99 , chicken swarma , rice and a salad is the best deal in town and absolutely delicious Also I highly recommend their Dubai cup ! It's amazing . read more

This was my first time trying Tarbosh, and I'm so glad we decided to come here! I was actually debating between Tarbosh and Mal Al Sham, but I'm happy we started with Tarbosh. I arrived around noon, and the restaurant was pretty empty, so I was a little apprehensive at first. Thankfully, those worries disappeared as soon as the experience began. Sara was spectacular--friendly, welcoming, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The food also came out much faster than I expected. Most importantly, the food was absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exceeded my expectations. This was a fantastic first experience, and I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend! P.s- bring an extra stomach. The amount of food you get for what you pay is nothing like American culture. You'll leave taking food home which is a good thing. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Tarbosh is to die for....... - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

I came here for the buffet and it was the right move. Came here on Sunday and they had a bunch food. All you can eat ! All good the Mediterranean eats. Kabob, Dolma, shawarma, rice, salads& more! You name it they had it. My favorite was their dolma and it hit ! Also their kabobs were yummy and warm. They have drinks where you can pour yourself. My favorite was the yogurt drink. They have a sweets table. Fruit & baklava ! Also they have someone walking around pouring tee! Inside and outside dinning can't wait to come back and try their regular menu !! ! read more

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الاكل جيد والخدمة ممتازة والمطعم نظيف جدا I really liked it I will come back for sure !!!!

Tarbosh, new ish restaurant in town in El Cajon. Do keep in mind the restaurant is not an authentic Arabic restaurant, the owner, Elad Primosher is Israeli. This is a second review based on my second visit, this time I tried the buffet. wide selection of eats with a tarbosh hat on top. i enjoyed their kibble and meats, zucchini was a bit undercooked and egg plant not as flavorful as I like. lots of seating, large restaurant. $30 each for all you can eat buffet with drinks included. read more

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The food is so good! I love this place! Food is fresh, hot, and has good spices. I tried the rice and chicken and hummus and shawarma and they were both amazing! Don't hesitate to come to this wonderful restaurant. I'll definitely be back! read more

I love coming in the mornings for the zaatar flatbread and labneh. Friendly service. Clean. Super good Syrian food. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Zaatar flatbread and labneh for breakfast. - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came here with the Too Good To Go App for the first time for a "Savory Pastry" not knowing what to expect. Inside is clean and spacious. Staff was nice. Food...so yummy. Ive never had anything like these before. So flavorful! I will be coming back to try more food again. read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Very spacious clean dinning area. Extremely friendly service ladies, loved the service staff! There were 2 ladies that really provided great service, even offered free fresh Pom juice as we waited. Always smiling, I felt very welcomed there. Options a little limited, compared to a few other Mediterranean places. Flavors were good. Textures could be better: Kebbeh had a lot of outer crust than filling, ratio made it hard/dry. Falafel wrap was very mushy, all of the falafels were smashed up inside of it. I was basically eating a chick pea mash, flavor though was still good. The square pastry had too much dry dough, made it kinda hard to eat, but again, the filling was very flavorful. If it wasn't for the texture of some of the items, I would have given it a full 5 stars. I will be checking out their brunch buffet though! read more

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My family came here for their Sunday brunch, and they offered a great buffet. They had a great selection of hot and cold foods, desserts and drinks. All of the foods offered were delicious. The staff is great and the restaurant is spacious for big groups. We'll definitely come back again read more

This is one of the most delicious authentic Middle Eastern restaurants in the San Diego area. We have lived in the area for years and have not enjoyed any other restaurant as much as Tarboush. The whole experience is amazing every time we go, and the Sunday all-you-can-eat open buffet never disappoints. Every time we have been to this restaurant, the whole staff has been very welcoming. The food is very delicious and cooked to perfection. read more

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Delicious!!! First time I have tried any of the dishes and they were all amazing. Friendly staff makes you feel welcome. Healthy and filling. read more

Food was great. We had a couple apps including tabouli and baba ganoush. Also had the $40 platter which was fantastic. Sara was our server and she was very nice and helpful. read more

We visited for their Sunday buffet, and it was a fantastic value! There was a great variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, including many I'd never tried before, even though I'm familiar with both cuisines. I discovered a few new favorites! At just $30 per person, with drinks and desserts included, it's an excellent deal for the quality and selection. read more

Great food I love it so much flavor great hospitality I will be coming back soon and try other plates and desserts read more

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Went there this past Sunday and food was amazing! I love trying new foods and this was a great experience and the environment was friendly.

So I didn't give this place either 5 stars or 1 star for several reasons. We ordered the Tarbosh Combo for 5 ( we were 3 only ) , which included kebab, shish tawook, chicken tikka, chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and rice. First, the portion size was actually generous and easily enough for 5 people. The selection of items was also very good. Big credit to Sara and the chef behind the counter -- both were extremely welcoming, explained the menu very well, and even offered to adjust a few items for us despite it possibly being against restaurant policy. Great customer service. The restaurant clean and organized The rice was very well cooked, and the kebab was excellent. Everything was grilled over charcoal, which gave the food a much better authentic flavor. Now for the downsides: The shish tawook was unfortunately very bland and lacked proper seasoning or marinade. The chicken shawarma tasted more like plain chicken than actual shawarma. The beef shawarma was decent, but nothing special. The salad was average. The biggest disappointment was definitely the hummus. It honestly tasted like canned hummus with a little tahini added to it, and it had almost no flavor. In Mediterranean restaurants, hummus is one of the most important parts of the mezze. If the hummus is weak, it affects the whole experience. We visited around 10:30 PM, so I understand kitchens usually operate with fewer staff late at night and things may not be as fresh as during lunch or dinner rush hours. Still, proper seasoning and marinade are basic fundamentals in Mediterranean food and can make a huge difference in maintaining quality and reputation. I would strongly recommend improving the hummus recipe because it really stands out for the wrong reason. That said, we will visit again because many customers highly rated other dishes on the menu, and the service itself was genuinely very good. Pictures attached show most of the food was left untouched except the kebab read more

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The food was absolutely amazing and tastes fresh! And the server Sarah was absolutely amazing! She is very sweet. She welcomed us nicely and she was friendly. The restaurant is very nice and relaxing for a breakfast time read more

The food was really good and the server was really kind and helpful. I recommend it!!

We were in the area after hitting up a local haunt last weekend and found Tarboosh on Too Good To Go and so glad we did! We got a chicken shawarma plate which was loaded with chicken and rice ($6) as well as a chicken shawarma sandwich (also $6) it was thin and about a foot long and packed with chicken and a yummy garlicy sauce. We were welcomed when we walked in and showed our code to pick up our items. We were told it would take a few minutes (5 minutes top I think we waited). Lots of seating inside and there were quite a few people dining in even though it was fairly late (around 8:30pm). Food was good and the value was great as well. It is a bit from home but would for sure go back if in that area. read more

Fantastic food!!! Great service. Everything we ordered was delicious. Good size portions too. Our server's name was Sara. She was friendly, attentive and helpful with our questions. read more

Middle Eastern Hala Parking available Restrooms inside Amex accepted Bakery inside Kebabs Vegan and vegetarian friendly Resealable prices Variety options Fresh bread Pastries Shawarmas Friendly To go available Falafel are good read more

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Solely based on a Too Good To Go order, I had seen Tarbosh on Too Good To Go app and I finally went for it and ordered the 1 lb of beef or chicken. Getting to the restaurant is pretty easy and there is definitely a lot of parking available. When you come in you're instantly greeted and the space is huge, they have a dessert stand too you can purchase from but I was excited to for my order. When I checked in the team member mentioned it would only take a little bit and so I sat a reviewed their menu. The food smelled good and the people looked very happy to eat, I definitely want to come back and order a meal. When I got my food and got home I was pretty impressed with the amount of beef shawarma meat I received, I ended up just eating it with rice and the garlic sauce provided. My husband put it on a torta and, I swear there was enough meat for 6 meals. The beef was really tender and flavorful and the garlic sauce was delicious, I wish I got more to use for a sandwich. If you're curious check them out just go it's so worth it. read more

amazing service and food, definitely would come again when i visit california, server was very sweet as well helped a lot! read more

Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - breakfast - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California