Sahara Taste of the Middle East

Great food. Love the shawarma plates and pita wraps. Casual and is open late into the night. Often a bit loud inside the restaurant with lots of families so it’s sometimes difficult to hear conversation at your own table. There’s patio seating which is more quiet and relaxed.

Excellent food! Love the Sahara fries. I’ve never had anything like them before. The service is always pleasant and fast. Call in your order for even faster service.

One of my favorite restaurants in Rancho San Diego. They have amazing Chicken Tikka and sandwiches. The services is great and the food is Always fresh. I have never been into middle eastern food but this place is great.

Had the chicken tikka plate again the other night – one of my favorites. It was incredible. Tender and juicy pieces; not overcooked or charred, which sometimes happens with middle eastern cuisine. Service was terrific.

My family absolutely LOVES this place. We’re not even Middle Eastern, but we sure eat like we are. lol The beef kabob is amazing! Very juicy, seasoned well, and the plate fills you up super well. The falafel is really good as well! And another item in the menu that I love is their lentil soup. If you’re feeling a little sick, have a cup of the lentil soup and you’ll feel super cozy.
The sides here are also very delicious! The babaganouj is probably the best I’ve tried! The flavor is just right, not too smoky like I’ve had at other places. The hummus is very creamy which I personally love. But the best side is the beet salad with walnuts and feta cheese! I could eat that all day! Spread some hummus on a pita bread and add some of the beets, I promise you’ll love it that way.
As much as I love this place, there are a few things I’ve tried that I would never order again starting with the beef shawarma sandwich. The French roll good, so the bread wasn’t the problem. I just disliked how bland the whole sandwich was, it was one of the worst sandwiches I’ve ever had. The vegetables inside were very soggy and didn’t have much flavor to them. And I might be a little too used to American sandwiches, but some cheese was definitely missing. It was just very lackluster and definitely not worth the money. If you’re craving some beef shawarma just get it with fries, that’s a whole lot better and you don’t get any of those soggy vegetables.
Overall this place is fantastic! Even though they did recently raise the prices for everything on their menu, I will still keep coming back for their beef kabob. That gets two big thumbs up from me! Great place to bring the family, just make sure you’re not stopping by at dinner time because it’s impossible to find a table.

I came to Sahara this evening for dinner after seeing the restaurant while driving by. Having recently come back to San Diego from a trip to the Middle East, I thought I’d see what an area with a burrito shop on every corner had to offer in the way of Middle Eastern food.
Holy smokes! Just walking in the door I could tell I was in the right place, a hidden gem in east county.
First impression starts with a welcoming greeting from the gentleman at the register and a view of the immaculately clean open kitchen. As well as the combination of amazing smells associated with the many selections of tasty cuisine.
I enjoyed the mixed combination plate. Not only did the food taste excellent, its presentation matched its picture on the menu.
As I sat enjoying my meal, I had the pleasure to watch others meals come out on equally well presented plates in generous portions.
Thank you Sahara,
Even if it’s out of the way, I will return in the near future.

The best arabic restaurant in san diego hands down you must try the filet mignon plate

Great service, delicious food and restaurant is very clean.
What we had:
–2 entrée plate, with chicken kabobs and beef shawarma
*plate came with roasted tomato, pickled turnip,
tabbouleh and yellow rice topped with yellow raisins
and almonds
–Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
–Beef Shawarma Flatbread
**Everything was really good.
The staff does an exceptional job keeping the place clean. Also, the customer service is top notch. 2 different gents came to check on our table to make sure food came out good.
Will definitely be back!

Whenever you get a craving for a California burrito, I urge you to instead consider the Sahara fries. My only regret is that I did not hear about this place sooner.
My brother and I came here specifically for the fries, so though I can’t speak much to the other items on the menu, I would wholeheartedly recommend this place based on the quality and taste of that one dish. I got chicken, my brother got beef, though in retrospect, there was more than enough to share between the two (or even three) of us. The fries were perfection — crispy on the outside but filled with heavenly potato fluff and definitely not too greasy. Despite being covered in a tasty tahini-​garlic-​ranch sauce, the fries were not at all overwhelmed; I hate when fries get drenched and soggy by the toppings — not a problem here. The ratios were just right. My brother’s girlfriend opted for the baba ghanoush — also delicious.
We were also quite mesmerized by the pattern on the wall and the ceiling decorations. Basically a winning situation all around. I will definitely be back for more of those fries.

I really love this place! They are super friendly and the food is great. I love the falafel, and it’s 2 for $ 6 for sandwiches which is a great deal! The baklava is so amazing too! There is a huge parking lot in this shopping center and they are open really late. It’s so nice to have a great restaurant with great food in my neighborhood! I would recommend to anyone :-)

This restaurant is at a remote location that warrants a distant drive for most people; however it is worth the drive.
It is located in a plaza where parking spots are usually sufficient. However the row in front of the restaurant are usually packed and the parking spots are smaller.
All the dishes we tried are delicious: the salmon plate, the chicken tikka plate, even the chicken breast sandwich are all fabulous. Their rice that comes w the plate are very tasty; the beet salad side is well worth a try. The restaurant also opens late til 2am weekdays and 3am Fri-​Sat (great for midnight munchies). The prices are not cheap by any means ($ 11, $ 10, and $ 6 respectively) however you do get what you pay for. Deliciousness.
Overall this restaurant is wonderful and will definitely come back again.

A real gem in food flavor, quality and quantity. I eat there at least once a week and never get tired. Friendly atmosphere too.

Not close to home, but very much — well worth the drive.
Run by a great crew of local Chaldeans, none other than an ancient line of peoples dating back to Babylonia in Mesopotamia. A few thousand years of perfecting their cusine and enter Sahara Taste…
Lovely staff with a clean as a whistle restaurant, serving very fresh and delicious Middle Eastern food. We ate like a King & Queen for a mere $ 20 something bucks. And, a lovely view of the hilly scenery to boot.
Definitely a go-​to for yummy food.

Horrible every single time I come here! They can never get my order correctly after all the chances I give this place. But after today’s order, I’ve had it! Every time I order a sandwich, they never put the sauce on the side and they always put lettuce on the sandwich when I specifically ask for these requests and the receipt clearly states it! Do the cooks not know how to read the order ticket! It upsets me so much when I come home and find my sandwiches all soggy and leaked through the paper bag. Another thing that’s happened about 4 times now is they forget to give me the chicken shawarma for my chicken Greek salad! They also add bell peppers and cheese when I specifically ask them not to and the receipt says it too. The workers there are so rude when you ask them to correct it and and half of them do not even speak English. I rather go eat next door at Press Box!

Visited Sahara for the first time after trying out Sahara Express and it was a pleasant experience. We called ahead and ordered a chicken tikka plate, beef shwarma plate, both with a side of tabouli salad, a large hummus and a bag of pita bread. The plates came with the entrée, yellow rice, and a half roasted tomato with pickled beets. On a Friday night, parking was a little difficult but was able to find a spot. The restaurant was a little busy as well but was clean and well maintained. I was greeted by Jafar who told me a little about the restaurant and assured me that I would enjoy the food. Upon coming home, we opened the boxes and the food looked and smelled delicious. Jafar was right as well as the food was indeed delicious. The many Unilocalers already agree that this is a great spot.
Thanks Sahara and Jafar.

Since trying the little sister Sahara Express and everyone telling us no go to the big sister Sahara Taste of the Middle East… we finally got our chance to try it tonight. Called in the food order and was quoted 15−20mins. My husband went to pick it up. When he came home with bags of food and drinks I was thinking who’s this all for?
They don’t mess around with food portions. We ended up with a chicken tikka plate, beef shawarma plate, both came with tabouli sides, also a large container of hummus and a bag of pita bread.
The meats were so tasty, seasoned to perfection, not dry not too tender just right. That yellow rice with a bit of occasional crunch and yellow sweet raisins in it was so delicious! The roasted tomato and slices of beats were surprising full of flavor that was unexpected.
Our 1 year old son was QUIET in his high chair, stuffing his mouth bite after bite smiling and wide eyed, and he’s picky so that says something… he absolutely enjoyed the different flavors! If he could write it would be something like Nom Nom Nom for a beginner Unilocaler.
Overall, I can’t wait to go back and dine in or pick up next time. It was easy, no hassle, delicious, and great customer service.

Food is always fantastic and fresh, love taking it to go too. The quality is top notch. The flavor are always on point. It’s filling and perfect for a pot luck meal.
Top 5 items in no particular order.
1. Sahara fries– beef
2. Filet tikka
3. Chicken kabob and beef shwarma combo plate
4. Sahara salad. Comes with strawberries, walnuts, it’s pretty bomb.
5. This is the best but it’s a dish I create at home myself with my to-​go order: Cheese flat bread used like a tortilla, fill with rice, shwarma, cucumber salad, hummus and tabouli. It’s worth it.
It’s without a doubt the best middle eastern food in San Diego. It’s worth driving from San Marcos, downtown, or wherever you live.

The customer service is horrible.
When I arrived around 7:30pm it was packed. The gal who took my order at 7:44pm was MERFAT according to the ticket. I approach the register and she made no eye contact. She was helping probably one of the owners enter in another order that was taken over the phone. It was approximately 2 minutes later until I was acknowledged. After placing my order I go to hand her my credit card and she looks away yelling at another employee in a different language. This argument took about another one minute. You just feel invisible at this place. I wrote on the store copy of the receipt «Poor customer service». I feel like the service is fair at most when coming here. Tonight was the worst I have experienced. If you have been here you probably know where I am coming from.

From all the middle eastern restaurants in El Cajon City, and there is lots of them, Saharah is my favorite.
food taste really good. free parking space available. good customer service. very clean. fast service. I love their Chicken Shawarma, it is the best I have ever had.

All future Middle East and Mediterranean cuisine that I consume will be judged in comparison to Sahara. I’m going to go out on a limb by saying it’s probably the best I’ve had in San Diego, and I’d be surprised if I can find anything better in our fair city.
The trek out to East County from downtown seemed a bit daunting on the map, but the 15 – 20 minute ride down the 94 freeway was painless. It was actually nice seeing the area during the daytime, since my experience with the region’s geography has been limited to the overnight hours.
Anyhoo, Sahara sports an attractive menu that will surely appeal to those that love their type of cuisine. My dining companion and I both arrived quite hungry, and we decided on ordering their 3-​item combo dinner. For my entrée, I opted to have the Chicken Tikka, Beef Shawarma, and Beef Kabob. It is served with a generous portion of rice, pita bread and a choice of one side (I chose the hummus). Everything was ridiculously good. Flavors were all on point. My favorite, in particular, was the beef kabob; it was very tender and like no other kabob I’ve ever experienced.
We also decided to share an order of the Sahara Fries. We opted to have the beef shawarma topping. It’s a mountain of crispy french fries, topped with succulent beef and a tahini garlic sauce. Outrageous. Sublime. Heavenly.
Service was friendly and swift. You order at the cash register, you’re provided a number, and they bring it to your table. Simple. No frills. Clean and spotless dining areas. But It’s really all about the food here.
I’ve been fantasizing about this meal all week. I can’t wait to bring friends and family to this little gem in El Cajon!