This place is absolutely fantastic. The food, the service, and the prices are all great. It's a totally unassuming place in a strip mall.

it is a sad day when a place that I have loved over the last four years changes management and everything slowly changes for the worse. I was so excited to get myself a VEAL kebab for my birthday lunch and I was served a plate of fat... not sure if it was cooked properly... you can immediately tell. I'm extremely disappointed at this $15 dish... not worth it. You can get a cheaper fatty piece of steak from Albertson's. On the positive side, the chicken still taste amazing and so does the fattoush. The lentil soup was good as well.. very flavorful. read more

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This is also one of our Favorite spots to get our Mediterranean food here at ZAD Mediterranean Cuisine. No matter dine in or to go we always ordered the Tray that serves 5 people, it contains Kofta Kabab, Shis Taouk , Skewer veal kabab, Chicken scallop, Beef Shawarma , Chicken Shawarma, served with Rice or Fries, Fresh Tanour bread, sauces, and pickles. Every meat here are tender and full of Flavor, best part they're always tender and juicy, we never encounter in our order any dry meats here at all. Meat portions are always good for what u paid for. Tanour bread is always freshly made here. Food here is always good just some other times service is not good, depending on who serves you. Parking is okay, plenty around. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Our Order to go - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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It used to be a good place to get delicious mediterranean food , not anymore . The food is not that good Also management is terrible .

So delicious! The food was bursting with flavor, and the freshness and quality of the ingredients really stood out. My dear cousin who normally does not like lentil soup, tasted my soup, and absolutely loved it! And regarding the service, we were so spoiled by ielaria and nahrien. They treated us like family. I highly recommend coming here. Plus, the price is good for amount and quality of food. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - This was the feast for two but really, four or five people could eat it... So delicious!!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

I was excited to have an authentic veal schwarma but overall I felt the meat was very fatty and the flavor was not what I was expecting nor something I felt like even finishing. Maybe I'll give them another try w something else on the menu but the value of the veal is definitely not worth it. read more

we went a group of 12 persons-and the server that helped us was so attentive and wonderful anyway we dinike 1.5 hours and they were closing when we got there but still they serve us like it was the middle of the day, we order some kind of meat combo with all the fixings that come with the mediterranean food it was one of the most delicious food ive tried here in san diego food was excellent,the ambiance was good a lot of bussing in the restaurant over all great ambiance and experience for everyone me and my wife first time here great experience, i highly recommend this bussiness. have a great night and may god bless your life. read more

This place is a hidden gem .. literally. It's in a plaza that you 2nd guess if there is anything worthy of cuisine satisfaction since Jack in the Box and Wienerschnitzel blocking its view from the main street. Its unassuming decor prioritizes a comfortable eating experience, it does have a bar, and outdoor seating. I ordered takeout and I was able to observe that many patrons come through, and there are lots of uberEATS orders that get fulfilled here. The person who was in charge was very efficient and looked like she had a good system going. I can't comment on dine-in but it seems like theyre decent They have a good versatile menu. I ordered the hummus and Zad Grill kebab combo. LOOOOVVVEEDD it, i got more than enough food with the combo, shared it with my boyfriend AND still had a bit leftover for a snack. The hummus was really good and they give you two big round pieces of their bread to go with it. Most places charge the same amount for less. read more

I come here all the time and love thier food. However today the lady that helped me with my pick up today coughed in her hand and carried on. I asked her to wash her hands before retrieving my food and she said she didnt have to because she was not making my food. I had to explain to her you will be touching my bag, napkins, and box and had to ask her again to please wash before handing my food. She finally did a quick wash and went to get my food. It should be automatic restaraunt etiquette to wash hands right away after coughing into it. read more

Amazing service, family tray 3 is very generous!! Consistent quality. The veal tikka and filet mignon tikka are amazing. read more

Great and fast service. Asked for the steak shawarma wrap but theyvwere out, opted for the chicken as a second choice. Great prices, amazing juicy meat. The pickles were fresh too. 10/10 will come again. Beautiful inside aswell. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Chicken shawarma wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

This place is so good!! It is my third time ordering takeout. We order Tray 1 and you can customize it with either rice or fries. They offer basmati or yellow rice to choose from. When ordering the tray, the bread already comes with it so you don't have to order extra. The tray is enough for 3-4 people depending how much you eat. We always get it for 2 people and save the rest for lunch. The only thing is that they give you one pack of sauce for their 3 flavors. They need to give more but honestly I always forget to ask. I'm sure if I ask they will provide the additional sauce. Walking inside, I can tell this place is authentic. They always have people dining in and they make their bread fresh. I definitely want to return and dine in person. It is like a hidden gem! Highly recommend. read more

I wanted my husband to try Mediterranean food for the first time, so we come here since I see this place on Tik Tok, and food looked amazing. Well food was great, but as soon as we walked in we were looked at weird by the girl standing behind the small bar. We were a party of 3, restaurant was not full, but they did have a big party like of 8 men right in the front, on the other side smaller parties, first of all no welcoming, it was like sit wherever you like but never said a word. Waitress comes which she was very nice, she was actually telling us that her husband and kids were Latinos. Food was great husband love it but won't be back. Somehow, they do a really good just making you feel like you're not priority. read more

It really pains me to make this update, especially since my husband and I had just dined here a little over a month ago and had such an amazing experience that I had an updated 5-star review drafted reflecting our dine-in experience. In August, I would have told you that the staff extended warm hospitality that made us feel like a guest in someone's home, that the build-your-own grill plate was cooked and seasoned to perfection with generous portions, and that the ability to order hot, fresh tanour bread from the servers is what will keep us dining in. Today, I still hold the same opinion about the food, but the service and resulting atmosphere was so tense that it was hard for us to enjoy our meal. Since dining here last, I noticed that the food presentation is a little different and that they have new plates. The plates look very nice, but we noticed that one of them was already chipped. After meeting our server, it wasn't hard to see why. We seemed to have been seated in the middle of a major argument between staff members and it overshadowed our entire meal. We waited for a little over ten minutes before our server made contact with our table. While we waited, we heard her arguing, yelling, and throwing plates around both the front and back of house (explaining the chipped stoneware). When she finally came around to take our order, she was aggressive with us when we had questions about the menu. After our food arrived, we had a hard time flagging her down if we needed anything else because she and the other staff members with whom she was fighting were too busy arguing and sabotaging each other. All of them darted around the dining room and avoided contact with customers while furiously texting and talking on their phones. When they weren't actively engaged in their fighting, they completed side work with headphones in. To make matters worse, the music kept cutting in and out, which led to many moments of shared awkward silence between our table and the other diners present in the dining room while the staff members engaged shouting matches in the back of house. While we understood that the cause of the fight had nothing to do with us, our server made us feel like she was mad at us for the duration of our service and it was difficult to enjoy the meal. The food itself was mostly unaffected, but I couldn't help but wonder if the chefs were also involved in this argument. Most of the roasted vegetables were undercooked at a high temperature (the char looked right, but the onions and tomatoes were still raw on the inside) and the tanour bread started coming out dry and tough with an external texture that signaled to me that the dough was under-hydrated. The meat and the rice were both as good as ever, but the quality of the other components of the plate was just not up to par this time. Toward the end of our meal, the only reason we got a takeout container is because my husband got up to get one himself. The only reason we got our check is because the next server clocked in and noticed that we were finished and anxious to leave. We couldn't leave fast enough this time around, whereas our previous experience made us feel welcome to stay as long as we liked. Zad Mediterranean has consistently been better than this over the past five years of patronage. I don't want my star rating to overshadow the fact that I have had many delicious meals and 5-star-worthy experiences at Zad. I keep coming back because the food here is some of the best in its category and it's not even close. As of right now, though, there seems to be a deeper dysfunction that leads to customers getting caught up in the crossfire. I'll keep coming back, but I can't decide if I should just come in later in the day to avoid those particular employees or if I should wait a few months and hope it's enough time for management to address the issues with the staff. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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We got invited by my son in laws parents and this is where they took us because they are middle eastern and since we love this food we agree right away. We didn't get disappointed by the food it is really good and the price is reasonable actually cheaper than some restaurant that I know. We let them order the food because they know what to order. For appetizers we had the freshly made bread that looks like naan with hummus and my favorite mtabbal. Then they ordered the mixed platter for four that we barely touch, we were already full with just the appetizers. They have chicken kabob, kofta kabob, veal kabob and other meat, it also comes with grilled tomato and green peppers, salad and biryani. Everything is so delicious thats why lots of people come here to dine. Big restaurant but only few tables inside, there's some tables on the side outside the main building. There's one server that has a bad customer service that my son in laws father told her to just leave us. I would have given a five star if not for her. read more

Hidden Gem with Amazing Food This Middle Eastern restaurant is tucked away in a small shopping plaza behind the Jack in the Box, making it easy to miss if you're not looking for it. It's a casual, no-frills spot--not a fancy dining experience, but more of a relaxed, family-style restaurant where the focus is on the food. We arrived around 5:30-6 PM, and it wasn't very busy at the time. The staff let us choose our own seats and took a few minutes to take our order. Service was decent--not overly attentive but not neglectful either. The food did take longer than expected to arrive, but once it did, it was absolutely worth the wait. Everything we ordered was delicious, well-seasoned, and clearly made with care. If you're looking for an upscale dining experience, this might not be the place for you. But if you want flavorful Middle Eastern food in a casual setting, it's definitely worth checking out. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Amazing fish and rice and great service all the appetizers were great and the fresh made bread was very good and crispy.

Edit: originally posted this review on the wrong account. The other review is in the process of removal so i can post on the right account. The owner also refuses to accept any responsibility and routinely blames guests for things that go wrong. I havent even told you guys half the stuff I've had happen. I only kept going cause the food is really good. But this restaurant will end up closing if the owner doesnt start seeing he is running the business really wrong. So this review is not about the quality of the food. This review is not about how nice or friendly the servers are. Their food is amazing and the servers themselves are nice, amazing people. No... this review is about the cook staff and how the owner refuses to even acknowledge there is an issue. I worked in a restaurant for 3 years. We saw way higher customer turnout on a slow day then this place sees on a busy day. Between to go orders and dine in we were always busy. We never had an order late more than 5 minutes. Ive been coming to Zad for at least 5 years now. Every single time I dine it it becomes a 3 hour dinner affair because the cooks are SLOW!!!!! Every time we order out our food is always late by at least ten minutes. I ordered online and was told my order would be ready at 6:11. Its now 6:45 and I just got my order five minutes ago. Thats a full hour after I ordered and 30 minutes after my estimate. Now you may be like oh things happen. Yes. Indeed they do. I was fine waiting ten minutes. But this 30 minute wait after you tell us 20 to 30 minutes when you have 10 people in the restaurant and I wait an hour in total instead. Somethings gotta give. I live 10 minutes away. Theres plenty of other Mediterranean places that while not as good offer better service. Sorry Zad. After tonight you lost a loyal customer. I come here at least once every 2 months and order a lot of food. Tonight I ordered less then normal and had to wait longer. Everytime I eat at zad I have to wait at least 45 minutes for my food. Not a good business model guys. Get new cooks, pay them better, or close. No one wants to wait an hour when you arent even that busy and its a consistent thing. read more

We had he's family meal ! Love that they open late . It takes a while to prepare and wait but great service and the food was so good. Big portions ! read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Family feast 6/7 - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Pretty solid spot when the service is good and they don't overcook your food. Otherwise, sit down service is subpar, especially when they have a big party dining in. Somehow they do a really good just making you NOT feel like a priority which is pretty impressive. Sometimes they won't answer the phone for pickup orders at all. Deliberately losing business. read more

We tried eating pacha from Zad Restaurant. The taste was very delicious, the service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable thank you Ammar tuza for great hospitality read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Pacha - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Fast response and food preparation. I was there in 15 min which was 5 min before the suggested time of 20min and the food was ready to be picked up Highly recommend this read more

Absolutely delicious 100% with the wait when it's busy. Our waitress tried her best attending everyone there. The place is clean and fresh inside. The bread was so yummy especially with the lentil soup! Would 100% recommend and come back! read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Lentil Soup . Lamb Meat ( Tashreeb) Yellow Rice Plate Shish Taouk (One Skewer) Lamb Meat ( Tashreeb) - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

How not to like Mediterranean food. Zad restaurant offers authentic Mediterranean and middle-eastern cuisine. Their menu includes good selections of various dishes from grill, fryer to salads and mezze plates. The bread is prepared on site and comes fresh to your table. We ordered fattoush salad, falafels, and plates with different types of meats. Every bite of food was flavoursome. We could taste different spices and seasoning used. There was perfect amount of acidity from pickled vegetables which paired well with tender and tasty meats. I do recommend this restaurant if you are in the area and looking for something tasty and healthy to eat, good service and relaxed atmosphere. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Zad Mixed Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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Start with the hummus! It's served with fabulous freshly made bread. We had the Zad platter with 3 different kabobs and the meat was so tender. The rice and sauce was delicious. Our server, Rosha was very attentive and friendly. I'm really excited to find such a good Mediterranean restaurant, will definitely be back. read more

Zad is definitely is my top 10 favorite restaurants. I love good food, it's a passion of mine. Zad serves truly delectable comfort food. I'm a kofta person, it's one of my all time favorite foods. Zad's kofta is wonderful. It's a mix of veal and lamb and perfectly seasoned. The kabab is always served hot and juicy. It's some of the best I've had anywhere. My son loves the chicken kebab (Shish Taouk) as did my grandmother when I brought her. The chicken was also very well seasoned and moist. It's so easy to overcook chicken, but they have perfected it. What really sets Zad apart from so many other Middle Eastern restaurants is the bread. WOW! It's seriously amazing bread. It is cooked to order in a tanour oven so your bread always arrives hot. You can even watch them make it as it's next to the dining area behind glass. I've also tried both types of shawarma, the veal kabab, and the chicken scallope. The veal kabab is fantastic, very nice flavored and tender. The shawarma and the chicken scalope are both good, but the kofta kabab has a special place in my heart. As far as mezze, the hummus and mtabbal are very good, I'd have a hard time picking a favorite. The jajeek is good as well, but not my favorite. I have visited with 3-4 people and a larger party of around 8. The staff is always accommodating. We've had issues in the past with some servers, it's really hit or miss. I've had fantastic service where the servers are very attentive and refill drinks and bread as much as we want, truly great service. I've also had my order delivered to another table and had to wait over half an hour for a re-make of my order, and didn't even receive an apology or discount. That particular occasion we waited over an hour for our food. Luckily we'd ordered appetizers, but the owner was more upset the server didn't go back and get the food back from the incorrect table and re-deliver it to us. I think that would have been inappropriate is well as they'd already touched the food. That table had their food re-made and got both orders, while we were comped nothing. So service is really hit or miss. To be honest, I may not have come back after that experience if the food was not so wonderful. read more

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Mediterranean food is always delicious! I ordered - SALMON KEBAB PLATE: This dish came with a good amount of salmon and the naan was delicious. Everything was fresh, you could choose between a side salad / rice / or fries. SERVICE / OVERALL: The service was ok read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

I am a fan of another competition restaurant in El Cajon. However, we wanted to change so we decided to come here today and I was surprised how quick the service was and how good the food was. Easy parking and ambience was nice and you can sit outside and they will turn the heater on for you. Restroom was clean and fancy. Everything we ate, including the French chicken escalope was really good. A few people including IKEA (did) dare to do chicken escalope in Usa. Rish for five people which is the second one is good for five people. If not six. So you are four and you order that dish be sure you'll have enough to take home for the fifth person read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Everything was good in this dish 4 platter meza - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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I always heard about how amazing the grilled meats are in El Cajon, and this restaurant certainly didn't disappoint! We went on Sunday evening around 5 PM, it was fairly busy but not completely packed yet. The service was very good and ambiance very family friendly and lovely. I had the best time and the kofta tasted like home! read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Tray Three (Serves 6-7 Persons) - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Visited this place for the First time. Met with friends. Portions were large. Ordered Kinds of mezza- the fattoush salad was excellent. Salmon kabab plate was plenty for 1 person. Salmon was a little overcooked. Ordered the tray 1, more than enough for 4 ppl. Tannor bread yummy with hummus. Our server was nice. Although took a little time to take the empty plates off the table, got a little crowded. No space to put the next order down. The owner was there , she was hands on ( thank you ) and took some empty plates off the table and had someone take the rest. Place was clean. Lots of parking available. Friendly staff. read more

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What a random order I placed which met all the expectations. Every item was a secret recipe and totally stood out among similar restaurants and chains. . This seems to have started a long term affair. read more

This place is amazing The meat is so tender and juicy Everything is made in house, even the pita is made in house The soup and sides are flavorful and well seasoned The workers are nice Everything is great, nothing to complain about here read more

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It's a really good place the food is good the service is good and the atmosphere is good I liked everything especially the food and I liked how they treated their customers I recommend their food is really good and I will be definitely coming back again. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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One of my favorite middle eastern restaurants in San Diego! The food here is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the mixed grille platters to share and try a bit of everything. read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Appetizers sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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Everything was delicious! The food was excellent -- the bread was amazing, and the hummus tasted incredibly fresh, like it was just made. The service was also very good, and the place was super clean. And yes, the tea was perfect too. Highly recommend! read more

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Spring Valley, California

This visit 3.5 -4 I am still a supporter of this restaurant. Just the quality of the food this last visit was not as fresh this time. The chicken was a bit dry and everything was salty. We support this place whenever we have family gatherings and when we want to enjoy Mediterranean food. So we do expect consistent delicious food. read more

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Service was the most awful! In all way possible first they ignored when I walked, at first I thought it was a self seating so we walked and sat down and they finally took our order and food was cold, they rejected our requests when we asked for white rice and they told us there wasn't any available when in fact we had seen it served to the customer at the table next to us. They provided us with cold pita. Unfortunately we did NOT get the experience we had 1 yr ago when we visited for the first time. I did try to address my concerns with the waiter but didn't take accountability or even apologize. Please management fix this you had a great restaurant last year. read more

The food was very delicious with excellent flavors. The service and cleanliness were all very good. Thank you to all the staff at the restaurant--sending you love, respect, and appreciation. read more

Service is sloooooowwww. I ordered the gyro plate for take out. Their food is good but nothing to write home about. The gyro meat was good but the fries were meh. They didn't have it ready by the time they said. When I asked for it, the person said it was ready and then helped a table before bringing me my food. I asked for extra napkins and they only gave me two. Ambiance was nice. Music and customers weren't too loud. read more

Truly exceptional. Great food, warm and welcoming service. Nice little bakery next door too. read more