I can't believe it took me this long to try Open Sesame! I'm a CSULB alumni and walked past this…read morecharming restaurant so many times. So glad I finally got to stop by many years later for dinner! Parking was easy (on a weeknight). Plenty of street parking and many open meters but I can see it being very difficult on weekends. Bake in some time to find parking! There's both indoor and outdoor seating at this location. This inside is cozy and there's a second room for additional seating. I went on a Thursday night and it was slammed. They do not take reservations but they do have a waitlist via toast that you can join while you walk around and wait for your table. Plenty to do and see on 2nd street. We ordered the party platter for 4 people! It was the perfect amount of food with leftovers to take home. Everything was cooked to PERFECTION. Our beef was a textbook medium rare and was so juicy and tender, as was the rest of the meat. The chicken was so moist and flavorful, as was all the shawarma. All meats were seasoned beautifully. The rice underneath was stunning as well and really caught all the juices from the meat on top. The roasted tomatoes, onions, and pickles were the perfect compliments to help freshen up the palette during the meal. The sauces were amazing and there was a clear favorite (the garlic sauce) which was annihilated by all four of us. Service was friendly! It was very packed so it was slow at times but understandably so. They come by and give you orange blossom water for your hands post meal - what a treat! We smelled amazing! NO NOTES FOR OPEN SESAME! I have to come back with more friends! We did have an issue but it was with another patron who had the audacity to yell at my table (while I was in the restroom) for "having too much fun"?!?! This is a public restaurant and it was loud as hell in there because it's tight and everyone talks over each other, not to mention the open kitchen. The energy in the restaurant is exciting and frenetic. If you want a quiet dinner f*cking STAY HOME and leave the streets to those of us who have had a WEEK and want to enjoy a fun dinner with friends. We will be back and we will have even MORE FUN, xoxo.

We stopped by here on a weekday because it was one of the dog-friendly restaurants near Rosie's Dog…read moreBeach. They have multiple outside seating areas where you can sit with your doggo. Ambiance (5/5): Although we didn't sit inside, it was super cute, with classy boho vibes. The restroom was clean and well-decorated (although, not gonna lie, I don't know how I felt about the big mirror facing the toilet). The outside patio area was airy, and although right by the street, I didn't find it unpleasant. Service (3/5): It was just so-so. They sat us down quickly, gave us our menus and checked on us maybe twice. It wasn't super busy, but we had to wait to ask for things like extra plates and water for our dog. Food Overall (5/5): Food was delicious. We got the beef shawarma lunch special and got fries for the side (extra charge) and also the chicken shawarma lunch special with the hummus side. Beef Shawarma (4/5): It had a nice toasty flavor, perhaps from the spices, and the pickled veggies really complemented it. My only complaint was that I wish it had a bit more of the white sauce (maybe adding more hummus would have helped). It was also strangely a bit watery, maybe from the veggies. Overall, it was still a yummy wrap. Chicken Shawarma (5/5): The chicken shawarma tasted more balanced to me overall. I don't recall the meat being dry, although I did also slather it with a bit of hummus. I thoroughly enjoyed this wrap. Fries side (5/5): Their fries are made in house and it tastes so fresh. It was crispy on the outside yet still gooey and moist on the inside. I'm not sure if they make their own ketchup too, as it looked clumpier and tasted really fresh too. The kids gobbled this up. Hummus and pita (5/5): It came with a generous amount of both hummus and pita. The hummus was well flavored and blended, and it really complemented everything on the table. The pocket pita bread was not what I had in mind (I'm used to thicker ones), but the kids really loved it overall. Ice cream (4.5/5): We ordered two scoops from the dessert menu. They were both really thick, creamy and almost chewy like liquidized mochi. It was a very interesting texture but nonetheless a nice tasty treat on a hot day. I much preferred the vanilla bean, as the pistachio tasted and looked rather artificial (and I'm a pistachio ice cream lover). This place had so many to-go orders during the afternoon we were there. I can see why. Food is super fresh and tasty. I think we will be back the next time we are visiting.

Great food! And great price! I like the soup and you get…read moreyour order fast! Food is great 4/5 but overall experience to me is 5. Very convenient.

Mediterranean is my favorite type of food and Alibaba is no exception…read more I ordered the chicken shawarma plate, which came packed with rice, hummus, a side salad, and pita. Their team was also kind enough to offer a few sides of garlic sauce - so good! Love their quick and easy parking lot. The whole restaurant is so easily accessible, it's an great option for a nice/healthy dinner on a busy day. I'll most definitely be returning to explore their lunchtime menu offerings. The main downside is that they're plating is a little smaller than competitors. I find that leftovers is one of the best parts of ordering Mediterranean.

I don't know how I didn't know about this place until recently, but I am obsessed. The Turkish…read morechicken kebab plate with zareshk rice topping is so freaking good. Really cute little space and everyone I've interacted with there has been super nice!

Do Not Order EGGPLANT BORANI . Wow. Should have sent it…read moreback. I tasted cold canned tomato sauce served in a plastic white 4 ounce bowl with a 2 inch piece of boiled eggplant for appearance served with stale cardboard bread. $10

Best Greek restaurant! I lovingly enjoy this restaurant. The food is authentic and traditional…read more The staff is amazing. The location is so much fun. The ambiance transports you to a cafe in Greece. I recently took my family to this restaurant after enjoying Disney on Ice. We all thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Looking forward to coming back again soon. Great date night/family time kind of place. Parking has never been an issue (paid lot, meters, free neighborhood street parking).

3.5/5 stars We…read moreordered the kabob chicken plate. The salad was good. Nice soury but not too tangy taste. The chicken was okay, but it felt like it was missing that taste and flavor you usually have when eating Mediterranean food. The rice was a little bit salty... The pita bread when microwaved was soft. Probably one of the softest pita needs I had thus far. The tzatziki sauce for the pita bread was really good and we used the leftovers by pairing it with some crackers so it's not a waste. (no pics)

I finally ordered from The Green Olive after my boyfriend had it catered at work and came home…read moreraving about it. The Beef Kabob was soooo good and such a huge portion. The meat is so tender and juicy. The garlic paste is absolutely chefs kiss. A must order with your meal! Meals here are definitely worth the price you pay. I will absolutely be ordering again!

Don't fall asleep on this place. Location is misleading since it is part of a liquor store…read more Clean inside and great customer service. Food is good. Plenty of parking and plenty of drinks to choose from. I recommend this place. A few tables for seating. 4 stars because I actually did not dine in for the experience. Took my food to go! Another Hidden Gem in Long Beach.

This location is the closest to my bf's house and I was craving for their chicken kebab and…read morefalafels. Panini Cafe smacks! When I worked in Newport Beach years ago, I frequented the Irvine location all the time for lunch! We decided on the mezza platter which came with 3 kinds of hummus, warm pita and falafels. He had the koobideh platter and of course, I had the chicken kebabs plate and everything is so delicious! We had leftovers for days! Will definitely come back here again!

Last night was our initial experience with dining from Panini Kabob Grill; we ordered at/from their…read moredowntown Long Beach location on Broadway. They offer flavorful and substantial menu items; however, as advised by friends, the preparation process can be relatively slow, with our two panini sandwiches and appetizer taking approximately thirty minutes to be ready for our pickup. Nonetheless, the quality of the food justified the wait. We ordered the House Specialty Hummus Trio, of which we have leftovers. All three varieties met our expectations, with the edamame hummus particularly standing out to me. Regarding the panini sandwiches (shared between two people) we had the Salmon Brie Panini and the Tofu Pesto Panini. The Salmon Brie Panini was enjoyable, though slightly fishy tasting. The Tofu Pesto Panini distinguished itself through its exceptional flavor, texture, and creativity. Overall, we were pleased with our experience and look forward to returning in the future.

Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here! From the moment we walked in, the service was…read moretop-notch. I felt incredibly welcomed and comfortable, largely because our waitress was able to accommodate us and explain everything beautifully. She was so patient, clear, and attentive as she walked us through the menu, and her personal recommendations were absolutely spot on. As for the food--everything was incredibly delicious. You can tell the kitchen puts a lot of care into their dishes. The portion sizes were also perfect; they were generous enough to leave you completely satisfied without feeling overwhelmingly heavy. The absolute highlights of the meal came at the end. You cannot leave this place without trying the pistachio ice cream--it was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Pairing it with their authentic Arabic coffee was the perfect combination and a great way to close out the night. Between the fantastic hospitality and the amazing food, we had a memorable time. We will absolutely be returning soon!

We had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant. When ordering, I strongly recommend…read morespeaking loudly and clearly and asking the server to repeat your order back to you. Our server thought he heard my sister order the Lamb Mediterranean Bowl, but she actually ordered the Chicken Mediterranean Bowl. When the lamb bowl arrived, my sister immediately explained that the order was incorrect and that she had requested chicken, not lamb. Instead of simply correcting the mistake, the server argued with us for 5-10 minutes, repeatedly insisting that we had ordered wrong and saying, "You ordered wrong. You cannot returned the plate. The kitchen already cooked it. What is the kitchen going to do with it? Throw it away?" He even suggested that we could buy chicken kabobs separately for $7 ea. At that point, I asked to speak with the manager or owner. The server walked away, then returned, took my sister's plate and brought out the correct chicken plate. Mistakes happen -- we understand that. What was disappointing was the lack of customer service and the arguing instead of simply handling the situation professionally. I have never experienced a server refusing to correct an order and debating with customers over a simple mistake.

Really friendly staff I had questions about the menu and was answered without making me feel dumb…read more Originally ordered the kabob and he informed me it would take up to 15 minutes and I realized I didn't have that much time so switched up the order with no issues. The chicken plate came out immediately and my sides which I can't remember what the eggplant one was called but it was smoky and delicious. Basmati rice was ample portion too much really for me. The chicken was super flavorful and the cucumber mint salad refreshing on the hot day! Grabbed an ice tea for the road and enjoyed my meal to go while watering my neighbors plants.

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with Zankou Chicken. I ordered lunch directly from…read morethe restaurant, but because they require customers to use DoorDash for delivery, my meal was never delivered. When I contacted the restaurant to explain what happened, I expected them to show some concern or offer a solution. Instead, the manager told me there was nothing Zankou could do to make the situation right. That response was incredibly frustrating. I understand that DoorDash is a third-party delivery service, but when a restaurant requires customers to use that service, it should also take some responsibility for helping resolve delivery issues. Simply telling a paying customer that nothing can be done is not acceptable customer service. Good customer service isn't just about preparing good food--it's about standing behind the entire customer experience. Unfortunately, Zankou Chicken failed to do that in my case. Until they are willing to take ownership of problems that arise through the delivery service they require customers to use, I will be taking my business elsewhere.