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Zad Mediterranean Cuisine

4.0 (500 reviews)
ModerateMediterranean
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Order Zad Mediterranean Cuisine Takeout or Delivery

Zad Mediterranean Cuisine Photos

Business Info

ZAD MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Zad Mediterranean Cuisine

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Reviews With Photos

Our Order to go
Michael G.

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.

Chicken shawarma wrap
Kevin A.

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.

Hummus
Cassandra K.

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.

Hosai W.

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.

Lentil Soup . Lamb Meat ( Tashreeb) Yellow Rice Plate Shish Taouk (One Skewer) Lamb Meat ( Tashreeb)

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!

Family feast 6/7
Lucy L.

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 !

Pacha
Joe J.

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

BYO Platter.  4 Kebabs, 2 Chicken, 1 order Veal Shawarma
Ashley D.

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.

Phuong H.

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

Tray Three (Serves 6-7 Persons)
Engie S.

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!

Zad Mixed Grill
Jarek M.

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.

Lentil Soup

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2 months ago

Food it's delicious serve 10/10 very friendly . I def be back in here price 10/10. Amazing stuff also... everyone should come & try the food

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The food was delicious and excellent , service below average . Very fresh Iraqi bread.

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Ask the Community - Zad Mediterranean Cuisine

Is the meat halal?

Yes, Beef, Lamb and Chicken Halal

Do they cater?

Yes

View All 4 Questions

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I loved this place! The night before coming here for takeout, I had Mediterranean food down at…read moreSeaport Village. It was tasty and satisfying... but this place BLEW MY MIND. The moment I walked in, I was warmly greeted and asked if I wanted a table for one. I said no, I was hoping to order takeout, and she kindly invited me to sit at the bar while I looked over the menu. Right away, the atmosphere felt welcoming, beautiful, and relaxed. I ordered my food, sipped my water, and honestly didn't think I had ordered that much. Then she came out with multiple filled brown bags of food! First of all, the prices were amazing. Second... the food was TOP NOTCH and completely different from what I had the night before. Everything was packed with flavor without being overloaded with salt. Fresh, vibrant, rich, and incredibly satisfying. The waitress/hostess was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave great recommendations on what to try. You can tell the staff truly cares about the experience. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit San Diego again. And not that I recommend eating while driving ... but the next day on my drive back to Ventura County, I spread out my leftovers and happily snacked on hummus, baba ghanoush, and dolma all the way home. That alone says everything about how good this place was.

There are restaurants you visit, and then there are places you feel, where the intention behind…read moreevery dish is unmistakable from the moment you walk in. That was my experience at NEY. From the first bite, it was clear this isn't just food, it is craft. You can taste the care, the precision, and the pride. Every element felt thoughtfully prepared, balanced, and deeply satisfying without trying too hard. The standout for me was the biryani, comforting, and perfectly executed. But everything impressed. The tzatziki was bright and refreshing, the hummus topped with beef shawarma was rich and flavorful, and the ney classic plate was generous enough to easily feed two, maybe even three, without sacrificing quality anywhere on the plate. It was the perfect way to try a lot of their items at once and that one disappointed! What really says it all is that I am already looking forward to the leftovers, which is rare for me. This is the kind of place that stays with you, not just because it is good, but because you can feel the heart behind it.

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Filet Mignon Tikka with Baryani - delicious too

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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!

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Pita Bread the Size of a Pizza

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Zad Mediterranean Cuisine - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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