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    Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant

    4.1 (211 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    TARBOSH MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Wrap
    Mar B.

    $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.

    Tarbosh Mini Combo | ميني كومبو طربوش
    Donald G.

    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

    Cirwan S.

    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 !! !

    Nell E.

    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.

    Tasneem Y.

    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.

    Joy G.

    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.

    Kibbeh
    Pam B.

    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!

    My 1 lb of Chicken to go!
    Missbecky T.

    Great place with delicious food! Very spacious indoors and clean! Service is friendly! Nice place to eat with family and friends.

    Sandwich Beef Kabab

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    23 days ago

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    1 month ago

    The food was amazing, Sara was my waitress and she was very kind, the restaurant was brightly lit and clean.

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    1 month ago

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    3 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    2 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    2 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    15 hours ago

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    Elad P.

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    13 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    3 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    30 minutes ago

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    10 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    10 days ago

    The food was good and selection was huge, however not many gluten free options. I recommend the buffet on Sunday!

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    10 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    7 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    4 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    3 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    30 days ago

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    Elad P.

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    30 days ago

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    Elad P.

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    2 months ago

    The food was delicious, many great mediterranean options. It's very clean and the service was great. I highly recommend it!

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    5 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    Elad P.

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    1 year ago

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    Elad P.

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    1 year ago

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    Elad P.

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    27 days ago

    I ordered beef shawarma for the first time and it was horrible. The meat was very cold and the taste wasn't that good.

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    29 days ago

    Amazing food! Amazing service! Both Sara and Nina were very hospitable and welcoming. Food was incrediblee!

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    4 months ago

    The food was very delicious. The owner is very kind and accommodating. Would go again and recommend to anyone else.

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    6 months ago

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    Page 1 of 6

    Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant

    How much is the Sunday buffet? How much is it for kids?

    It is $30 per person, also check their app might get a deal for more than 3-5 persons for $25. Kids $15.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus - Chicken Shawarma (with fries)

    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus

    (648 reviews)

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    I have been recommended by many of my friends to try Mal Al Sham for some really great food…read more And all recommendations were proven true. Parking lot can be a challenge as it can get quite full and tight , however , down the street there can be another opportunity for parking I sat down inside and ordered a mixed grill entree ( one chicken kebob skewer , one beef tikka skewer and one chicken tikka skewer ) which came with rice and salad w/ the option to substitute the rice with fries however no salad As i was waiting, i could not help but be amazed at the beautiful white marble tables and the ceiling designs the interior of the store so proudly displayed , the wafts of the charcoal smoke fuming inside the restaurant intensified my salivation. My food arrived and i grabbed a lemon slice and squeezed a droplet of lemon juice on each little bite of skewer meat. I started off with the chicken and i couldn't believe how much moisture was retained on the inside while the outside was perfumed perfectly with the smoke of the charcoal. The tikkas and their ratios of meat were pristine and i could not help but feed heaping full spoons of the ever so seasoned rice to my mouth. If i was born Arabic in a previous life , my taste buds affirmed the possibilities as i ate here tasting the flavors of Damascus شكراً

    Rarely comes to this neighborhood, and we are glad to find out about this restaurant…read more The business is good, many staffs on shift and service is friendly and attentive. We got the mix grill with fries instead of rice and salad. Meats are cooked perfectly with right seasoning. Portions is enough for two. Will definitely come back to try more menu items next time when I'm around this area.

    Ali Baba Family Restaurant - Look for this Sign

    Ali Baba Family Restaurant

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    $$

    Haven't been here in years, decided to take a trip to El Cajon to have lunch at this mom and pop…read moremiddle eastern restaurant with my mom and pop. They definitely invest their time on the taste of their food and serving large portion sizes instead of fancy tables and decor. It's not upscale fine dining... the interioir looks the exact same for past decade. Although a little dated the place is very clean and fits large or small groups. Not a date night spot -- more a friends and family stuff your face kind of place. They have a dedicated parking lot with plenty of spots. We ordered a ton of food to share. Half roasted chicken with side of fatoush salad, beef kabob plate with side of rice, lamb tikka with side of fries, a large plate of hummus, and an order of falafel (Best Falafel in SoCal). EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I personally didn't like the lamb tikka but everyone else destroyed that plate. We ordered a pot of black tea (mint flavored) and they brought our large pieces of steaming hot fresh bread. Service was very friendly and fast. They modified any order to your liking. They also thanked us for coming and meant it when they said it -- Mom and Pop shops are The Best! Highly Recommend if you're looking for good quality middle eastern food with large portions.

    The location is right on the corner you can't miss it. They have their own small parking lot. There…read moreis a lot of similar restaurants in the area that we have tried. They just don't compare. The quality and flavors are out of this world. The inside is very cute. it is clean and welcoming. We enjoy lunch dates and dinner here as a family. The owners are very friendly. Definitely recommend the lunch for 2. FYI it feeds 4 people easily. Dinner for 3 feeds 6-7. Large portions. The hummus is soooooooo good. Pro tip: ask for extra olive oil. Give this place a try!

    Alforon

    Alforon

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    Rolando

    I have eaten there so many times I can't even count. Their food and their restaurant is my favorite…read moreplace to eat in San Diego. George and Samia are the most wonderful people in the world. George will come out of the kitchen and explain, in detail, every item on the menu. I laugh when I read or even see a subpar review of Alforon. Those people are either high on drugs or never experienced excellent food before. Chicken Tawook, Tabouli salad, house pickles, everything is off the chart and that's just the for starters. You can close your eyes, point to a menu item and have the best meal of your life. Explore their whole menu, you can't go wrong with a single item. Hands down off the chart and excellent food by two of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life.

    First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

    Tahini - The Esquire Pita Sandwich with chicken Sriracha Tahini, French fries and mango lemonade.

    Tahini

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    Kearny Mesa

    We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after…read morehearing 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.

    The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time…read moreI 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.

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    I was planning a lunch date with a dear friend today, and she mentioned she'd never tried Afghan…read morefood. Since we were going to be in Hillcrest, we chose Khyber Pass - and wow, what an incredible decision. This was easily some of the best food I've had in a very long time. We started with the Bolani. Absolute perfection. It had a beautiful crunch, perfectly seasoned filling, and none of that sogginess I often run into with Bolani elsewhere. We could've ordered another plate and been thrilled. Next came the Aushak with ground beef: one of my all-time favorite Afghan dishes. Think of it like delicate leek-filled ravioli topped with savory meat and tangy yogurt. It hit all the right notes. We also shared the Kofta Kabob, served with grilled vegetables and fluffy basmati rice. The seasoning was spot on, and the meat was juicy and tender, similar to Persian koobideh, but truly memorable in its own way. Our server recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao (Cherry Curry) with chicken. Yes, cherries! Sweet, sour, rich, bright. I had to resist the urge to literally lick my plate clean. And then: the Qabuli Palao with lamb. I do not like lamb. My friend loves it, so I agreed...and I'm so glad I did. I genuinely loved this dish. The saffron-coriander rice with carrots and raisins was aromatic and comforting, and the lamb was tender and flavorful. If you're hesitant about lamb, trust me, this dish might convert you. Portions were generous, we came hungry, and still left with leftovers. I also ordered the house-made Doogh, a mint yogurt drink. It's not for everyone, but it's pure comfort to me. We finished with hot tea infused with cardamom, black for me, green for my friend, and it was the perfect close to a perfect meal. I told our server that this food was even more delicious than what my mother makes. I'm Afghan born and raised in San Diego. That is not a compliment I give lightly. I believe the restaurant is under newer management since around 2020/2021. I last ate here in 2015, and even back when it was on Convoy in the late '90s, and this is the best it has ever been. I highly, highly recommend Khyber Pass to anyone: adventurous eaters, first-timers, comfort-food seekers, well everyone. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'm saving room for dessert.

    Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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