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Name: Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant
Address: 7303 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA, 91942
Telephone: (619) 462-2722
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.35

Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant

7303 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA, 91942

(619) 462-2722
Store is closed

Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Cold Vegetarian Appetizers

Hot Vegetarian Appetizers

Meat Appetizers

Baked Appetizers

Manakiesh Supreme

Any 3 Cold Vegetarian Appetizers

Any 3 Hot Vegetarian Appetizers

Cold Vegetarian Appetizers

Hot Vegetarian Appetizers

Meat Appetizers

Baked Appetizers

Manakiesh Supreme

Any 3 Cold Vegetarian Appetizers

Any 3 Hot Vegetarian Appetizers
Salads

Arabic Salad

Fattoush

Caesar Salad

Greek Salad

Green Salad

Arabic Salad

Fattoush

Caesar Salad

Greek Salad

Green Salad
Entrees

Gyros Plate

Kifta Kabab Plate

Chicken Kabab Plate

Vegetarian Plate

Gyros Plate

Kifta Kabab Plate

Chicken Kabab Plate

Vegetarian Plate
Sandwiches

Falafel Sandwich

Kifta Kabab Sandwich

Chicken Kabab Sandwich

Gyro Sandwich

Beef Shawerma Sandwich

Vegetarian Sandwich

Falafel Sandwich

Kifta Kabab Sandwich

Chicken Kabab Sandwich

Gyro Sandwich

Beef Shawerma Sandwich

Vegetarian Sandwich
Vegetarian

Falafel

Hummus

Baba Ganough

Labaneh

Fried Eggplant

Fool

Tabouleh

Cucumber and Yogurt

Mafgousa

Ghalayt Bandora

Eggplant and Zucchini

Green Beans

Grape Leaves

Cheese Plate

Falafel

Hummus

Baba Ganough

Labaneh

Fried Eggplant

Fool

Tabouleh

Cucumber and Yogurt

Mafgousa

Ghalayt Bandora

Eggplant and Zucchini

Green Beans

Grape Leaves

Cheese Plate
Meat

Kubbeh

Eggplant with Meat

Lamb Kidneys

Tomatos with Meat

Naqanik

Kubbeh

Eggplant with Meat

Lamb Kidneys

Tomatos with Meat

Naqanik
Baked

Spinach Pie

Meat Pie

Labaneh and Zaatar

Cheese Pie

Manakiesh Supreme

Manakiesh

Zaatar

Spinach Pie

Meat Pie

Labaneh and Zaatar

Cheese Pie

Manakiesh Supreme

Manakiesh

Zaatar
Kids Menu

Kids Menu Includes Small Drink

Kids Menu Includes Small Drink
Sweet

Sweet

Sweet
Drinks

Arabic Coffee

Apple

Orange Juice

Arabic Coffee

Apple

Orange Juice

Healthy Meal suggestions for Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant

Appetizers

Cold Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any 3 Cold Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any 3 Hot Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cold Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any 3 Cold Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any 3 Hot Vegetarian Appetizers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Arabic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fattoush [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arabic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fattoush [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Gyros Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kifta Kabab Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabab Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyros Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kifta Kabab Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabab Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Falafel Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kifta Kabab Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabab Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyro Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Shawerma Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Falafel Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kifta Kabab Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabab Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyro Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Shawerma Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetarian

Falafel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baba Ganough [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Labaneh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fool [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tabouleh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber and Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mafgousa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ghalayt Bandora [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant and Zucchini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grape Leaves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Falafel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baba Ganough [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Labaneh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fool [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tabouleh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber and Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mafgousa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ghalayt Bandora [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant and Zucchini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grape Leaves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meat

Kubbeh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant with Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Kidneys [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatos with Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Naqanik [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kubbeh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant with Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Kidneys [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatos with Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Naqanik [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Baked

Spinach Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Labaneh and Zaatar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zaatar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Labaneh and Zaatar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manakiesh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zaatar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kids Menu

Kids Menu Includes Small Drink [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Menu Includes Small Drink [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sweet

Sweet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Arabic Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arabic Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in La Mesa for healthy meals suggestion.

La Mesa Bistro & Bakery ( 8697 La Mesa Blvd )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Jason R.

I am not one to praise a restaurant right out of the gate, but I am willing to this time. Haritna offers not only delicious Mediterranean cuisine but exquisite customer service. Upon enter I have was treated with a warm welcome and seated right away. The menu offering focused and allows everything to be made with excellence. The Beef Shawerma is well spiced served with fluffy basmati rice and a delicious salad. The portions are large enough for family sharing. If you are with a party of friends or family this is a definite must stop.
(5)
Justin G.

This place is great. Most of the dishes seem common to all mediterranean places, yet they seem to have a little something I cannot place that is different in a good way. This is my only experience with Palestinian food, so I will chalk the difference up to that. Everything is fresh and you cannot go wrong, whether vegetarian or carnivore. If you don't know what to get and are overwhelmed by the menu as we were since everything looks good, take advantage of the appetizer combo deals. The staff is also very nice and Yousef, the owner, is also an excellent host.
(5)
Suzanne C.

We have been here twice and the service and food is wonderful! The owner came out and spoke to us, asked us how it all tasted, and told us that he had just made some lentil soup, and would we like some. Well, YES, thank you! It was delicious! It's like being at someone's home, they make you feel at home too, AND they make yummy food! And the bread... AMAZING! We come all the way from Oceanside to enjoy this place... and no matter where YOU live, you should be eating here too!
(5)
Curt V.

Giro sandwiches hit the spot after a long walk. The bread was hot, fresh, and delicious. We'll be back!
(5)
Dana A.

I will be coming back here anytime I'm craving real good arabic food! I'm middle eastern and grew up eating this type of food and believe me when I tell you that these people do it right!!! Our waitress was also very very nice!
(5)
Ankur G.

Sooo gooood!! Decided to checkout this place on out recent trip to San Diego. Feels like a nice cozy family run business. Homemade bread- simply awesome! I could go back just for the bread. Felafel- 4/5, the roll was pretty tasty. Fool- i won't rate this because i think it wasnt for my pallet. I see some reviews where folks liked this dish but i did not relish it somehow. Cucumber Raita- 4/5, fresh cucumber in yogurt raita- yummm!! Highly recommended for authentic mediterranian cuisine!
(4)
Joseph Y.

In a pinch for some quick take-away dinner, Haritna was close by and shawarma was on the mind. Haritna was place nearest to where I was and had some good reviews, so why not. Haritna restaurant sits off El Cajon Blvd. as a small hole in the wall place, there is a tiny parking lot behind the restaurant and lots of street parking. The dining area inside is quite small with some tables, a couch and places to play checkers. I did note that the place seemed overall pretty clean. Their menu includes the typical Mediterranean/Lebanese stuff; sandwiches, salads, kabobs, hummus, fresh bread, and including Vegetarian items. To start off, I was feeling in the French fries mood and the garlic fries seemed like a good idea. The fries ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) were seasoned with lots of garlic, salt and a bit of pepper. Though the fries had a killer taste to them, the soggy texture wasn't really good. But I'll blame this on my drive home, because crispy fries don't last forever. The hummus ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) was quite a big letdown, it was really oily and didn't have much flavor to it. I think a good hummus is what you expect out of these places. The bread they have here, which I read was baked fresh every day, is pretty decent stuff. Here they serve thick bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) instead of the standard pita, too bad the hummus didn't make a good dip for it. I was kinda bummed out to find they didn't have chicken shawarma here, but I figured the beef was just as good. The beef entrÃ©e ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) comes with a small side salad with tender thinly sliced beef over a large bed of rice. The small side salad was okay, I liked they used different types of lettuce and it wasn't an oily mess like the hummus. The actual beef was cooked perfectly, tender and very juicy (not dry at all). The unfortunate salty aftertaste was the only real thing wrong with the beef, just a bit of a seasoning issue. Someone got a little too crazy with the salt shaker back there. The bed of rice underneath was both seasoned and cooked great. The size of entrÃ©e you get here is awesome, the entire beef shawarma plate was only $12 and the entrÃ©e plate was good for at least one or two meals. Apart from the seasoning issues with their meat and the oily hummus, everything was on the alright side here. I don't think I'd venture back anytime too soon, there's a lot of Mediterranean competition in San Diego and I would rate this place on just the okay rating. The prices were very decent for the size of portions. It was a bit of a bummer they didn't serve chicken shawarma, but they do have kabobs here. The lady who took my order was quite friendly and the food came out really quick. Friendly staff always makes a great difference.
(3)
Nazih M.

Great place, Best Arabic Food In The WEST, specially THE Fatteh W/Pine Nuts, parsley and Lamb The Kenafeh is to die for.
(5)
Alice C.

Unbelievably delicious. The food is freshly prepared, and everything tasted very good, comparing to a lot of Mediterranean places I've been (well, except for one hummus shop I suppose). I would highly recommend the tabouleh, the hummus and fool. Can't go wrong with those and a ton of pita bread. The portions are big though, so you will definitely have leftovers for the next day.
(5)
Heather C.

This place was divine...spectacular...perfect...amazing...I'm hungry just thinking about it! We came in just after opening, and were immediately seated by a friendly waitress. She gave us menus, told us about all their specials and entertainment and recommended dishes for us. I'm not a big eater, so I ordered a chicken Kebab a la carte and an order of falafel, my bestie got a wrap and pita & hummus. They brew their own iced tea, which was awesome and slightly minty. The chicken? AMAZING!!! So tender, flavorful, with a tang of sumac and just the right amount of grill char. The falafel was crisp, a bit doughy in the middle, but totally delish with the creamy hummus. My roomie said the bread was fantastic, and I think she ate it all. I will DEFINITELY be coming back. My mouth is watering just thinking about the chicken.
(5)
Deniz A.

Great cuisine, great, bread, and tender chicken. That's what I had to go for lunch. The salad was a little too greasy, but middle eastern people love oil, which was not a big deal. I loved the portions and will come back to dine in, because the inside looks just wonderful.
(5)
Anu A.

Finally, decent Mediterranean food in San Diego! Being born in Middle East, I'm hard to please when it come to our food, ate at lots of Mediterranean restaurants in U.S. and lately SD and was always disappointed, with ingredients and the recipes. Haritna is different story, food was AMAZING, service was great, our host named Farah was sweet. Went with my parents, we ordered appetizers sampler, half chicken with rice, meat pie, and manakish supreme, not a single bad things I can say (shocking I know ) Will take my American friends, they will love it!
(4)
Scott M.

Such a great experience. Food is fresh and light. Great way to spend your time on Friday night dinner.
(5)
Dee N.

I can't say enough good things about this place. Plenty of parking, easy to find, beautiful restaurant, food came out so quick, the food was delicious and the waitress was attentive and friendly. This post is actually about their bread for which I'm prepared to kill over since visiting the other day for the first time. Holy moly!!! The bread tastes like unicorns and gold. Go for the bread, stay for the food.
(5)
Krissy H.

This restaurant is amazing! Truly authentic and it feels just like your Grandma is making you her homemade food! The portions are generous and the ambiance is authentic! The harissa dessert is divine. The waitress told me that the first Saturday of every month they have arabic music and dancing. The hummus and falafel were spot on-- the best I have ever had!!!!
(5)
Liz H.

Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant is wonderful! The service is excellent. The food is fresh every day. The vegetables are so fresh you know that they have been put together just before they were served to you. Fresh bread is made daily and it is very good. It is served warm with a nice light brown crust with a soft inside. The Chicken kebab wrap is out of this world wonderful! You can taste the flame grilled flavor along with all the wonderful Mediterranean seasonings and vegetables (want one right now!) The Humus is so tasty with the fresh baked bread. I intend to try everything on the menu! I make an excuse to head to that area just to stop! Now for dessert! The knafeh is the best! It is served warm and it is lightly sweet, perfectly so and melts in you mouth. The atmosphere is classically Middle Eastern. You can relax with checkers or at the chess table. The modest surroundings remind you of sitting down to a home cooked meal. This is 5 stars for sure!
(5)
Jeffrey H.

GREAT food ! Excellent service! They have wonderful vegetarian options and their fresh baked bread is the BOMB!
(4)
B C.

Loved the quality of the authentic food! Good portions! Delicious:) recommended. The appetizers were awesome. The service was good. Hookah available.
(5)
Karen N.

Wow! What a great find!! My husband and I just discovered this place last Saturday night and were so impressed by the delicious food and service. We we treated like royalty. I am so glad this quality restaurant is so close by. Telling our family and friends!
(5)
Janet E.

The food is so tasty and wonderful! The chicken kebabs are delicious. The bread and Humus are so good too! It is hard to put into words how great the food is. I like the cozy atmosphere. There is a chess game set up that you can play or if you prefer a game of checkers. The place is kept very clean and tidy. The waitresses are very friendly and provide excellent service. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot. I keep coming back for more. I like everything about this place. If you have not eaten here, you are missing out on one of the best places.
(5)
Tony K.

Everything was tangy! Not familiar with Mederteran food, maybe I shouldn't have order their sausage or their Sherwerba(?) but I couldn't eat it. And anyone that knows me, knows I don't turn down food but here I am home eating a bowl of salmon, raw spinach, mixed with some mayo and pepper to satisfy my hunger n to get rid of that TANG!
(1)
Rachel Y.

I am a very happy diner this time around. The first time my bf and I dined here, we were less than impressed, but tonight was a complete 180. I ordered the veggie appetizer sampler (3 hot vegetarian appetizer dishes) plus the koubbeh. My boyfriend got the salmon kabob. Here's the dishes, in order of deliciousness: 1 - Fried Eggplant. This was far and away the most delicious eggplant I have ever eaten. If you even sort of like eggplant, this dish is a must. The end. 2 - Koubbeh. Delicious seasoned ground beef enclosed in bulger wheat, then fried. Mmmmmmm, and the homemade lebne...OMG! I could eat it by the bowl. 3 - Salmon Kabob. Grilled wild salmon on a bed of flavorful rice and accompanied by a tahini veggie salad. My bf went crazy for the side salad. 4 - Falafel. Solid falafel with more depth than your average falafel in the US. Fried nicely and not too heavy. 5 - Fool. Fava beans, onion, olive oil, and other spices. It was a little heavy on the olive flavor, which is just not my personal favorite, but quality was still good. The complimentary bread was fluffy and delicious. Service was very friendly and helpful. Great experience. Thanks for making this second visit so good!
(4)
Omar A.

I grew up in the Middle East, so I like to try every Middle Eastern restaurant for myself to see if it is good. Haritna is an authentic restaurant that makes delicious food and offers great service. We ordered some appetizers, which I highly recommend doing because they have a great deal when you get 3 appetizers, and you get to try lots of flavors for the price of an entree. We got: - Fool (4/5): There is nothing foolish about this dish; it's incredible. They season fava beans with olive oil, garlic, and other seasonings, but if you hate the taste of olives, this dish may be a little strong for you. Otherwise, this is a fantastic dish. - Falafel (4/5): Not the best I have ever had, but I still really enjoyed them. The exterior was perfectly crispy, and the interior was a well-seasoned mixture that my taste buds craved after the first bite. - Fried Eggplant (5/5): Holy crap. This is probably the most delicious eggplant I have ever had. Simple but perfect. - Koubbeh (5/5): Again, delicious. Ground beef enclosed in bulgur wheat and gently fried -- the result is amazing. Also comes with a homemade labneh (a creamy yogurt-like sauce) that complements the dish perfectly. - I loved their salmon kabab (5/5), in which the salmon was perfectly cooked and which came with a delicious tahini-vinegar green salad that was to die for. Also served on white rice, which is a nice complement. - I also tried their kofta kabab (4/5) the first time I came and it was fantastic. Juicy and seasoned well. The server was super friendly and their homemade bread is amazing -- crispy on the outside and so warm and fluffy on the inside. You can dip it in anything and it will taste good. They also have a cool patio in which you can enjoy hookah (shisha), which I plan on doing the next time I come.
(4)
Chancethepug X.

The bread is awesome. Crusty outside. Hot & soft inside. The hummus is very good and and excellent with the bread. Portions are generous. The beef & lamb seasoned perfectly. I probably passed this place a dozen times, the exterior of the building isn't very inviting, but once inside, the restaurant smells SO GOOD, and the plates passing by on their way to the tables look so very good. I'm glad that I came in to eat. The service is great. The chef came out and asked how everything tasted. The waitress was attentive and very nice. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Jack M.

I came in during my lunch break from a nearby conference I was attending near by. I had them make me their chicken kebob wrap and upgraded to hummus for a dollar for my side. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised when me meal came with a side, right out of the oven house bread for my hummus. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) All for only $6.50, a great deal indeed. The wrap was great. The char grilled chicken was very good and came mixed with their house sauce, tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) The sauce was very creamy but light, so it matched up well with the chicken. The wrap was large, warm, and help up well to all the goodies inside. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) I liked this very much. The hummus was very good as well. I really liked that they added a generous amount of flavorful olive oil and a garnish of chick peas. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) The hummus was smooth with a slight appealing graininess, and tasted of easy garlic and herbs. The bread that came with the hummus was amazing and was great to eat with the hummus. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) The bread was very well baked to a golden brown and was very soft inside. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/hariâ€¦ ) Make sure you try it when you come. The lady who took my order and served me was pretty cool. She checked on me and apparently you can have seconds on the bread too!
(4)
Chelsea B.

Oh where do I start? On my way home I impulsively looked for a place close to my home where we could get dinner. I placed the order over the phone and Janelle (?) was a total sweetheart even when I dropped the phone in between my car seat, mid-order. Once we got there the tables with the chess set, record player and records called to me. We sat down to eat our to go order and it was just as amazing and I had hoped it would be. We got the 1/2 chicken, rice, Greek salad and Fattoush. I stuffed my face and so did my son. We love it! This is a new favorite! Everyone that we met that works there were so kind and welcoming. They have events all the time and were setting up for a live music set tonight. I can't wait to come back! My 6 year old: That food was very yummy!!
(5)
Maria S.

We found this place on Yelp, one of many options for Mediterranean food! It was amazing! The food was so delicious and the service was great! Chantal greeted us right when we walked in and sat us at our cozy backward-vibe seating area. We ordered their bread, hummus, falafels, half chicken plate and beef shawarma plate! So much food we packed more than half to go and it was still so delicious the day after! Chantal was so attentive to all the diners! My husband and I are definitely going back there! A must try place for sure!!!!
(5)
Vyvyan B.

Absolutely amazing homemade Palestinian food! A real treat! Also the chef owner and the main waitress/hostess are incredibly charming. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Steve O.

IMPORTANT: IMPORTANT: IMPORTANT: Look what the owner sent me when i gave him one star on YELP, he called me "COWARD": Owner send me yesterday: **************Shame on you for not posting what I wrote to you completely . What a shameful ,cowardly and very dishonest thing to do . Its people like you who give ***** and ******* a very bad name but also make all of us disbelieve that there's hope for mankind to always at least try to do good. I guess that's the difference between Honest people and cowards. Shame on you because you did and were too dishonest to finish the sentence .Wow************** Owner sent me 3 weeks ago(Part of long message):: ***************we also noticed that some people are impossible to please especially if they believe they hold a lot of power like writing a Yelp review .These customers are usually the kind of people we don't wish to have them patron Haritna and would like them give take their business somewhere else.. Thank you again Yousef Abudayyeh, Owner of Haritna**************** The whole story is below: 1-We were there for the new year party(4 persons), we bought the tickets($75/person), the ticket does not include beverages (thats bad). 2-When we went there, they made us pay around $70 tips+tickets taxes!!!!! Why i buy a ticket and 2 weeks later, they ask for the ticket taxes, is this is normal?. 3-And no one cleaned the table when we spilled some soda. 4-Same belly dancers every year, nothing new. NEVER GO THERE AGAIN. NEVER.
(1)
Justin B.

I come here with the wife and kids and order a few cold appetizers, a few hot appetizers, some french fries, and we are good to go! Easy to make vegan, these Palestinian dishes are satisfying and economical. We always order more than we can eat and have leftovers for days. If you love garlic, you're in luck. The fool (fava bean stew) is garlicky and "buttery" (actually olive oil) and is my absolute favorite dish here. The owner is personable and conscientious and his waitstaff is friendly and accommodating. Be sure to come check out the belly dancing too!
(5)
Dan D.

We stopped in tonight as part of our continuing quest to eat good, healthful food locally. My better half found a coupon for this place (20% off entire order or buy one/get one free entree), checked to see what our fellow Yelpers were saying about it and off we went. It was fairly empty on a Wednesday afternoon. We were greeted warmly and seated right away. I had a Lebanese beer and she had a soda. I ordered the house special (1/2 chicken with basmati rice and a salad) and she had a Greek chicken salad. The lone waitress was friendly, helpful and on top of things, even when more diners started arriving. We both enjoyed our meals. I thought the chicken salad was a bit small but my herb crusted chicken was deeee-lish! It was tender, cooked perfectly and very tasty. I'm a big boy/big eater but I had to take some of mine home. Lotsa food. We bought some pistachio baclava to go (3 pieces for $3), putting the entire meal at $23. We spoke with the owner/cook before we left. He told me with complete sincerity that he wants his guests to enjoy their meals. "They don't like their meals, they won't pay." As good as the food is, I don't foresee that ever happening! If you find yourself in the El Cajon Blvd area of La Mesa, I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Leo I.

Food is amazing!!!! Definitely authentic. I recommend if your in the mood for the best Mediterranean food.
(5)
Syd R.

This place has the best Palestinian Cuisine. It's a gem. Absolutely lovely staff and the food is so good. They have belly dancing and comedy nights as well.
(5)
M. Yvonne J.

I came to this restaurant as a new resident of San Diego looking for a place to take my niece who attends SDSU. This place is home to the best salmon kabobs and hummus that I have ever eaten. The owner, Yousef, is personable and has a talent for making food that makes you crave. In addition, it has an outdoor hookah patio and live performances on the first Saturday of the month. I'm refering to a fantastic singer and even more awesome belly dancers! Each time I go, I have a divine dining experience.
(4)
Joseph A.

This is where I eat when the craving for Mediterranean food hits! Being a hobbiest chef myself I understand great food, and Yousef the owner creates excellent food! Disregard the sub-par reviews as this place has the best Palestinian food in San Diego hands down and the price is reasonable. I'll keep coming back and hope to see you there.
(5)
Mark W.

I ordered the Chicken Sandwich wrap. Side choices are fries or salad, but for a $1 more you can get the fresh bread w/ side of hummus all for under $10 there was 1 incident that I wasn't too thrilled with. The chicken was a little charred and they didn't put as much veggies as they normally do. But they're good most of the time.
(5)
Horace H.

Some of the best middle eastern food I have had anywhere. The owners really know how to make hummus and babaghanouj. Love the falafel and the fresh baked bread.
(4)
Ali S.

Best kofta kabab sandwich I've tried in San Diego and looks like a cool place to have hookah there, I will come back and next time try to dine in. I had my order to go, took a little time to be made but it was totally worth it.
(5)
Rochelle M.

If you havent tried Haritna mediterranean food you are missing out !!!! The owner /chef aims to please and his food is delicious and reasonably priced They have beer/ wine and a Hookah patio too!!!
(5)
J. Michael L.

While out driving with my GF, I had mentioned that I was craving stuffed grape leaves. She did a search on Yelp, due to the time most Greek resteraunts where closed or closing soon, but Haritna was still open and wee saw that they have a good Yelp rating. We decided to give it a try. I have to admit that this is now my new favorite Mediterranean. The grape leaves, were the best I have had in a long time, the Falafels were cooked to perfection, and very tasty. I ordered the Beef Shwarma, when it was brought out, wow the portion was incredible for the price, the salad was very good, which I am not usually a fan of, the rice was great and very filling, and the Shwarma, holy cow, YUMMY. There was only one waitress when we were in there but she was very attentive, friendly, and very helpful answering any questions we had. All in all I wil go back again and again, and will drag friends with me, kicking and screaming if i have to.
(5)
Elizabeth E.

This is one of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat in La Mesa. They have the best baba ganoush I have ever had in my life, and I have tried many different kinds since I come from an Armenian descent. The bread they serve with it is fresh and hot and is absolutely amazing. I have always received excellent service, and have never been disappointed in my many visits to this location. The prices are great for the amount of food you get. Last night's meal is also today's lunch :) Last night we tried the baklava, and I usually don't care for it since it's too sweet but this baklava was excellent too. We tried the walnut honey and one piece was enough and was satisfying especially since I don't have too much of a sweet tooth. I often like to call in the order of the 3 veggie appetizers and then I just run in, pick up, and it makes for a great plate to bring to parties or other various events.
(5)
Leon J.

Fresh hot bread! Bury me while it still lasts! Visited this place while taking some courses at SDSU. The Decour inside is very authentic. There are many things from the Arab and middle eastern culture adorning the walls and the space inside. For appetizers, we had the fried eggplant the hummus the fuuland stuffed grape leaves. Enough for two right!? All were deliciously and beautifully prepared. My entrÃ©e was scores of ground beef on a bed of rice with a Greek salad. This place has me reconsidering my belief that the Persians make the best kebab. Definitely will visit there again. By the way, they have an outdoor patio where you can smoke shesha if you like.
(4)
Elaine A.

Very happy we found this gem. Great food, fast friendly service and large portions. We shared the fried eggplant appetizer, gyro plate and chicken kabobs. All the food was fresh and delicious. Plates came with basmati rice under the meat and salad on the side. Everything was great. We'll be back.
(5)
Micheal A.

The food was very good. We tried a large selection of what they make here. The servers were very friendly and accommodating. I think the price is reasonable for the area. We will likely come here again
(4)
Cindy W.

This place is a joke!! I ordered some food to go and when I got there to pick up my food they said they don't take the entertainment book coupon! Apparently they don't take the restaurant.com coupon either Guess what?! I called the entertainment book and they are going to research it up at headquarters. It's just bad business practice. Never coming back again! P.s your restaurant looks filthy inside
(1)
Michael D.

I have had 2 meals here now and they have GREAT food. Try the hummus and the salmon kabab.
(4)
Sydney B.

My sister friend and I shared a wonderful birthday lunch here yesterday. It was great-- the mint ice tea, falafel, shawarma sandwich, and chicken dinner. We loved it all and the service was exceptional! The patio was a perfect setting too for my, happy to be with us, dog. We'll be back soon.
(5)
Sara B.

I don't know why this place isn't crowded from the moment it opens, until it closes! Food is scrumptious!!! Nice service. Everything - is super YUM YUM!!! ;)
(5)
Anne D.

Super yummy food, freshly baked bread, fool, lots of vegetarian options...fool was savory and so flavorful...I really recommend this place, it doesn't look like much fromt he outside, but inside it's another world. Excellent attentive service.
(5)
Dakini Engineering General Contr D.

Great food, service and atmosphere. The open patio is great. The customers are great and friendly also! Dana
(5)
Jessica A.

Two stars is me being generous. The highlight of our lunch was the freshly baked bread , which was very good . We ordered beef shawarma which was (1 star) the meat was sour :( yak ! My husband got falafel which was below average , we also got garlic fries which was not really fries more like pan fried potatoes . To top it all off it took approximately 20 minutes before we got hummus ( which doesn't have to be cooked ) to get main dish it took approximately 35 minutes ! Wow who has this kinda time to wait during lunch ??? The restaurant was not even busy, there was only 3 other tables besides ours . By the way our bill was couple dollars over then it should be , I didn't say anything but I noticed that few other reviews mention the same experience . I will not be back for sure !
(2)
Len A.

Fantastic food, great portions, great service, sat on the heated patio, had dinner with the Mrs., and had a nice relaxing evening!
(5)
Vannessa F.

I ordered take out for me and a friend. We both ordered the House Specialty BBQ Chicken, and a side of garlic fries. The amount of food that came with the entree was great. I ate it like three separate times because I got so full. The fries were soggy, could have been cooked longer. Overall, for the price and the amount of food you get... This place is worth it. We were satisfied with our meal. I would definitely go again.
(4)
Danger D.

This place is really great. They will help you choose something good. I have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is also a win for if you have family or a date.
(5)
Luisa B.

I'm keeping this one short. The food was great, the portions huge. My food had a little too much fat on the meat, which sucked because I had to pick it all out. The baklava portion was tiny and was over priced. I will probably eat here again though.
(4)
Jen J.

I don't know if I should be more mad at Haritna or at myself...either way, it seems the old adage of "don't assume because it makes an 'ass' out of 'you and me'" is appropriate here! My family and I wanted to find a new place to eat, somewhere in the neighborhood we could go to that might become a regular place. In the Get1Free coupon book, there was one for Haritna and a close friend on mine had raved about this place, so why not check it out. Our party had 5 adults and my 3-year-old son, no other diners were in the place except a gentleman on the patio. The food server was friendly and helpful, she later engaged us in dialogue telling us about the dancing and music that was scheduled during the weekends. We were excited about this place -- casual atmosphere where we already felt like we were regulars. The food was a 4-star rating -- the appetizers were homemade and fresh, very delicious! The chicken kabob was a little dry and the gyros was not off a rotating spit, but the kifka and beef sharmwa (sp?) were good, the rice yummy, and the bread was to-die-for. The menu was reasonably priced and you got a lot of food (two points the food server and I talked about, up at the cash register while she let me borrow her calculator because my math skills were fuzzy (long day) to figure out a 20% tip. Again, we were excited about this place -- accommodating people who were ready to help out. So, why the 2-star rating?!? -- on a very crowded, hand-written order ticket which was quite difficult to read, our food server added an auto-gratuity (which I am not against) but chose to only write it on the ticket and not feel it necessary to verbally inform us of their policy. I am pretty certain it was not written on the menu (and if it was then is small, fine print). I am certain it was not printed on the coupon we used. I am fairly certain it was not listed any place near the cash register. So an hour later when I could not figure out why our bill was so much, then with our 20% tip on top of it, it seemed like she had not deducted our coupon. So, I called Haritna and politely asked if the coupon had been deducted, to which our food server then let me verbally know their auto-gratuity policy, repeating three times that she wrote it on the check. So she got a near 40% tip! I UNDERSTAND it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to look over the check, however when I asked for the calculator to figure out the tip and the credit card receipt prints up only a line for "the tip" and not for "additional tip" (which I know it can do), then I think something is amiss. As a former food server, who worked in the industry for close to 10 years, I know the ins-and-outs of what is done. I know we profile and size up the customer, but perhaps I have been out of the business too long. I assumed the rapport my family had just made with this food server should have counted for more. But, alas...I am the 'ass' SO customers BEWARE, check your tickets -- my family and I will not be regulars at Haritna.
(2)
Christine H.

The food was delicious, the service was great and the price was affordable. You can't ask for more!
(5)
Rich G.

This place is the best Mediterranean food around. We had the tool, falafel sandwich, labaneh, and the spinach pie. Plenty for two people to share and really good. The bread is amazing, thick not thin like you would normally get. I will be returning for sure. Great food and outstanding customer service. Just go here and eat.
(4)
David A.

Been coming here for about six months. Excellent customer service, delicious food. Can't get enough of the stuffed grap leaves and fool. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
John C.

Never heard of this place before today, tried it because it was near a place I had an appointment. Best Beef Shawerma sandwich I've had since I was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War!! Mint in the iced tea, excellent hummus, and that fresh made bread that others have mentioned. They have proudly displayed their award for "Best Arabic food in San Diego county"; and I'd have to agree with that sentiment as well. It's really out of my way to go there, but I'll be back as often as I can.
(5)
Beto S.

The free bread and dip are amazing and they Have a good vegetarian selection and They have a great wait staff
(5)
Mark H.

My review of this restaurant is long overdue! I am a meat-loving, newly minted, vegan (for health reasons), which has forced me to start looking for places that have legitimate offerings for vegans. Having always loved Mediterranean food, I know great gyros, kababs, etc, but now, by necessity, I have to concentrate on things like falafal, hummus and baba ganough. Haritna covers all the bases whether you're a vegan, carnivore or an omnivore. Its an incredibly friendly restaurant, with an outstanding wait staff and personally involved owner. (The owner has come out to meet our table twice, which is always impressive.) I've only been there for lunches, which are unbelievably quiet, but friends of mine have told me about how busy it can be on certain nights of the week and weekends. I know something goes on there at night because they have stacks of vinyl LPs stacked up and they look very well used. Try it all of their food, because it's all good and very reasonably priced. Their homemade bread is incredible, their falafal is a wrap rather than the usual pita, their baba ganough is the best I've had anywhere in the world (because they load it up with garlic and it their home made bread is a perfect match for it). While I've never been lucky enough to hav eeaten their gyros, or their other meat dishes, I've suggested them to friends that have eaten it those items in front of me and they've thanked me for their recommendation. (and make me rethink the whole vegan thing every time I go in there !) Haritna is also one of a couple of businesses that are attempting to transform El Cajon Blvd between 70th and La Mesa Blvd into a more desirable place to be for lunch and dinner instead of just places to buy or fix your car. So, while they remain an undiscovered treat for lunch, try them when you need to be able to have a quiet lunch conversation with great food.
(5)
Anzor Z.

I came to this place with my friends years ago, since then i loved it. Great food, amazing Hookah, and awesome customer service. I usually come here to have a hot tea with delicious knafa and some hookah after all. The tea is unlimited, drink all you want:) the hookah is well made with no burning taste. If you dont like the flavor, no problem, they will change it for something else for no extra charge. Food is also good here, like homemade, tastes super delicious. I always recommend this place to my friends. A+++
(5)
Leo U.

I suppose I always seem to crave Mediterranean food after a gym shesh at night and this place always seems to close later than some of the other places in the area. I've been here twice (around 9pm) and the wait staff seems to always be super nice helping me order new things, even though they're probably cursing at us for coming in before they close at 10. Anyway, the bread for the hummus is effin awesome, first place I've seen serve hummus with delicious bread. Most of the time it's pita of some port. Needless to say, It tastes awesome. Anyway everything was great. Check it out.
(5)
Dario G.

Authentic mediterranean food. Fresh and delicious. You have to try. Service is efficient and friendly. Came for a graduation dinner and had a great time.
(5)
Kirsty N.

Great food! The hummus and fresh warm bread is hard to stop eating once you stop- I usually have to take it away from my husband or he'll fill up on it alone! I've had a number of their dishes and am always happy with them- my husband especially likes the half chicken which is huge I might add! The location is a bit older so it's not a very bright place however I've never had any experience with the place being dirty or smelly. Overall, I'd recommend it- hopefully the few bad reviews or experiences don't become a trend because this is a good little place for some great food.
(5)
Diego S.

Judging from the past reviews this place was probably good at one point, now in the middle of these insanely hot summer days it just smells like pee. Cheap cleaning products...and urine...
(1)
Lisa L.

Amazing lamb kebab (rare in the middle) and the BEST handmade bread!!! I am a bread lover, and their bread is truly incredible. Kind service and overall great experience.
(4)
Troy D.

I have eaten here for lunch on four occasions and each time my opinion of the quality of the food served to me only gets better. Everything I've ordered has been superb. The dishes have been fresh, delicious and beautifully plated. The service has always been excellent.
(5)
Jasmine V.

Came here with my class and they were wonderful. Very kind and the food was pretty good! The grape leaves & salad weren't my favorite.. but the basmati rice, falafel, and hummus were spectacular! The home made pita bread was also great. Would definitely recommend :)
(4)
August M.

Haritna means, "our neighborhood" in Arabic. When you go there as much as I do, it definitely feels like home. I frequent this restaurant, probably two to three times per month, and have been doing so for the past year and a half. It is the best middle eastern food I've had in San Diego yet. Service is excellent. The waitresses, especially Chantal, are great. They give it to you straight. If they don't like something on the menu, they tell you. If they do like something, they're estatic to share. Although I hope these smart and witty girls finish school and move on to better things, I'm glad they represent Haritna. The owner, Yousef, is really great. He's very approachable and will make sure you have everything you need. The food is pretty authentic. My (hopefully, inshallah) father- in- law is Palestinian, and said it tastes like what he grew-up eating in Haifa. Although I've tried the regular menu (standard beef kabobs and rice), I try to stick to the appetizers, and just order a bunch of them. The appetizers are Palestinian and set this place apart from most other middle eastern restaurants. Specifically, I love the garlicky meat and tomatoes. It's like comfort food. I also order the naqanik. It's small pieces of the most flavorful sausage you've ever had in your life. The casing is really, really thin (in the event that you don't like casing on your sausage). I also get the cucumber and yogurt (standard), or eggplant and zucchini. Pretty much everything on the appetizer menu is tasty. Oh, and don't forget the bread (khoubez)! It is ususally delicious, and the basket is bottomless! (I say usually because they've had a new baker, and the bread is hit or miss, even though they're using the same recipe). I've had the kanafe there, and I don't really care for it. My (hopefully, inshallah) mother- in- law makes it better. I've also tried the kaki (palestinian cookies). My boyfriend's teta (grandma) makes those better. If you want a dessert, I would stick to the Baklawa. They have a few different kinds and they're all tasty. Also, try the mint tea. It tasted the same is what I used to drink in Morocco. The prices have increased a little bit, but it is still super reasonable. On a meal for two, we can usually wrap it up for $20-$28 with tip. (without soft drinks). On Wednesdays, they have a comedy night. Not a big fan of this, and I still don't know why they do it. I'm always annoyed if we show-up on a Wednesday (forgetting about the comedy), and they bug us to stay. We've also been there on a belly dancing and live music Saturday night. It was fun, but we had to pay a cover :( I think it would be a fun place to have a birthday party though. There's a broken television in the dining room. I wish they would fix it or throw it away. With that said, this place is in La Mesa, and I live downtown; however, I will travel for good food. You're missing out on a real treat if you miss this place! Bismillah!
(4)
Trang N.

The kabobs were yummy!! We especially loved the rice, tabule and falafal! The restaurant was slow that evening but after trying a couple things, it was really good! Everything was less then $10 on the menu so you won't feel like you got roped off! LOVE...let me say that I am in total love with the falafel and the chicken and ground meat kabobs! First time we came here we tried a little of everything from their little buffet stations. Our second time there, we had their dinner plates and they were huge. It's also nice that they provided us some hummus and bread as a complementary appetizer. They also have nice baklavas so we ordered some to go for dessert. The final bill for 2 dinner plates, side of falafel and 4 pieces of baklava came to $25 and another $5 for tip!
(5)
Ed I.

This place is delicious and authentic. The interior is nice and spacious and the lighting is perfect. The service was great, friendly and attentive without being annoying. The bread is made fresh right there, not some Pita bought from a store. The rice has a great texture and spices. However I can say the salad that comes with the dinner plate leaves a lot to be desired as it's just the greens, a tomato and a cucumber could go a long way here. But this is a small complaint in the grand scheme of things. The hummus also has a unique texture and spices, you can tell it was made fresh there as well. The meat is the highlight of the meals here though, my friend got the Gyros platter and I got the Kabobs. In both instances I can say this is some of the most juicy and tender meat I've had in a really long time and I've been craving it again since I left. All in all the experience was good and the food was amazing. I'll be back.
(5)
Elizabeth W.

When I moved into the neighborhood a few months ago, I kept seeing Haritna's name on "Best of" lists. So, of course, I had to stop in. It definitely deserves its rankings and ravings! Not only is the best Arabic restaurant I've been to in San Diego, it's probably the best one I've ever been to, PERIOD. Plus, the prices are exceptionally reasonable, and both the wait and the cook staff are some of the nicest, most accommodating I've ever come across. I am absolutely obsessed with their Arabic salad. So simple, yet SOOOOOOO good! And, the bread alone is worth the trip. (And, they almost always give me a big bag to take home. Like I said, the staff is amazing!)
(5)
Walter K.

Our first visit there today for lunch. We had the chicken kabob plate and the gyros plate. Both came with basmati rice and salads. The gyros had a greek salad. They also brought us a basket of delicious warm bread. The portions were huge and the meats were freshly grilled. The chicken had been marinated in a lemon sauce and was delicious. The gyros was quit possibly the best I've ever had. The slices were thick and very flavorful. To drink we had iced tea which was flavored with mint leaves. The entrees were $9 each which I thought was reasonable. The service was very friendly, but a bit slow as there was only one waitress working. The decor does not do much for me, as does the loud middle eastern music. Parking is free in a lot behind the Restaurant. We will definitely return to try more of the food choices. I'd say this is the best Middle Eastern Restaurant I've tried in San Diego.
(5)
Scott T.

Really enjoyed ourselves .... Baked Chicken still out of this world. Yousef, the owner stop by our table and checked to make sure that everything was okay. Our waitress remembered my name after just one visit what a nice surprise, that just doesn't happen very often anymore. If they have grandmother's Sahlab make sure to give it a try, you won't be disappointed! Thanks again for making our evening enjoyable!
(5)
Kurtis S.

One of my favorite new finds in my neighborhood! We have been several times and it has always been delicious. We are working our way thru the menu and so far, so good! The meat dishes have been awesome and the salads have all been fresh & tasty. The beer menu is good and the service has always been spot on! I am so glad we have another joint in my neighborhood that I CRAVE!! I am going back next week!!!
(5)
Alan S.

Went here for a work meeting because of the yelp reviews, the food was good but one dish came out cold and another seemed microwaved. Again the food did seem good but it also took a looong time to come out our 1 hour lunch break took 2 hours and eventually ate up into work time =(
(2)
Henry T.

Wow, tiny place. My friend and I went on the recommendation of 600 reviews from Yelp and I have to say it was a disappointment on first impression. The entrance should be marked clearly first. Restaurant was near empty on a Saturday afternoon lunch rush hour. Does it pick up at dinner? Anyway, my friend ordered a spicy sausage appetizer and the server had no idea what kind of spices were put on the dish. Nevertheless, it was tasty. The pita bread triangles really helped to sell the dish. Very good. Strange that the server mentioned no one ever orders root beer and so they were out of it. I was apparently the first to order it. Had to switch to Sprite. The entrees we ordered made up for the sparse setting. The kebab my friend ordered was very good. Could have used some bread to offset the heavy taste, though. Same with my beef shwarma. All in all, good food, even if the service wasn't great. The environment was very strange. Table kept tipping from side to side due to the uneven tile flooring. Bathroom was sparse as well. It could also use some markings as well, as it was hard to find.
(3)
Joseph K.

Food was ok...called in an order to go. My fault I did not check it before leaving the restaurant. I ordered 2 gyros plates, a gyros sandwich, and a Greek Salad. After getting home I called them because they forgot my Greek Salad but charged me for it. I called back and they said they would give me the salad free of charge . I Went back and the hostess made an excuse of "I thought you upgraded the side salad for the gyros sandwich." So I had to make 2 trips back to the restaurant only to hear excuses! Not so good on the customer service. I live down the street but will not return!! I will stick to JK Greek!
(2)
Skyla R.

I thought I enjoyed the food here, as it was better falafel than I had in San Diego county. I thought the food was good so I came back a couple more times. I like this place until I dined at Petra's (la Mesa/ lake Murray). after tasting the difference it seems like the food here was made sloppily, or rushed. the falafel is more moist than most places, and extremely dense, like most places. it is a first runner up to Petra's.. but it's no where near as good. the service here is decent. the young lady that is usually serving seems genuinely sweet. and the older gentleman (owner?) is polite enough to chat. the space is nice albeit casual, there's a sofa and a stage area and an outdoor space that is covered and catches a little breeze. the designer in me sees that it can be elevated easily to look nicer but the casual feel matches the casual quality of the food for casual dining. it's a good restaurant, I just can't afford it many stars after having real cuisine from the competitor. had I reviewed before my epiphany at Petra's I perhaps would have given this place 3 or 4 stars. but with such fierce competition just a few miles away I just cannot tell you this place is worth your time. now I do see they have an average of 4.5 stars... I'm doubtful those people have shopped around for their Mediterranean dining experiences. also on my first visit I was invited back to check out a happy hour, which seemed to be a good deal for hookah & appetizers... however, upon returning within 2 weeks that happy hour had been canceled. I didn't like that.
(2)
Andrea V.

We ordered the gyro sandwich and the 1/2 chicken entree, both were amazingly good! And the 1/2 chicken was tender and juicy. We had plenty left over to take home. We ordered the knafeh for dessert, which was yummy! And also had peach mint for hookah. The service was spot on and our drinks were always filled! Will definitely return and highly recommend:)
(5)
Maria Pia F.

went on 101513 This place is delicious and the prices are right on especially for a family of 4 and on a vacay! We got the babaganoush app, and spinach pie for starters. It was all downed in seconds. Dinner was the half chicken and the kebab plate shared with our 2 daughters. All the food was delicious and the bread was fresh, not warmed up. For all that food it was $30 with tip!!!PLUS, we had left overs. The owner/chef came out to talk to my husband and was a really nice guy and thanked us for coming in and giving them a try. Honestly this is why I love YELP and small businesses. They opportunity to meet the owners and chefs who make your food and to see how nice and thankful they are you came in. We need to support all these small mom and pop places, not franchised cookie cutter menu places
(5)
Alaina M.

I've only been here once but I doubt I will comeback again as there are so many other Mediterranean restaurants to try. I had the fatoosh salad and the kubbeh. Both were alright, not fantastic just alright.
(3)
Donny C.

The service is excellent. The food here is so authentic and delicious. I personally recommend their beef shawarma rice dish with salad in the side A+. The environment and decor is very calming and they have a hookah bar there as well as chess and checkers. Parking is a pain since they do not have their own lot so park at the Mexican shop across the street.
(4)
Leah B.

Food was delicious, great service, wine was good. I will be back and would recommend it.
(5)
Cody G.

This is the best Mediterranean spot in San Diego! The food is great and authentic! You can't find better hummus or falafel!
(5)
Ed C.

Had another superb meal here last night. It surprises me this fab place is not busier. The salmon kabobs were amazing! So incredibly juicy and delicious. They marinate them overnight and the result is something I've never had anywhere else. I actually crave these. The lamb kebabs are almost as good. intense flavor from a great char on the outside and nice spices. they could benefit from a sharper knife to cut them up as they are not as tender as the salmon but so delicious. and the portions are very large so that two dishes plus an appetizer was more than three of us could eat. but that means we got to take some home which is a great thing. we also had an appetizer called if i remember right manakesh supreme which we all liked a lot. overall a great experience and we'll be eager to eat there again.
(5)
William G.

If your looking for a nice quiet place wigs. Great atmosphere look no further. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Food tastes amazing as well.
(5)
ian m.

So few people know about this place and it's a shame because it's truly unique food. It's similar to other Middle Eastern cuisine. Many things that are essentially cold salads or stews. Very rich flavors and generous portions. The standout thing you'll remember us the bread. They're these amazing rolls that are just the right density for dipping in the stews. You just have to go and try it out. It's so good and so easy to miss. Go, eat, and share with everyone you know. Really good service too.
(5)
Katie J.

This place is fabulous! I didn't even like hummus before I started coming here and now I love it. Yousef's is perfect - I even started making it at home to try to compare to his being as I live in Temecula. The Ghayat Bandora is amazing also! Chicken skewers are great. Salad is so yummy and the bread is to DIE FOR! We go every week. Go - you'll love it!
(5)
Kim M.

Food was so great. Prices were so low. Will definitely be back in the future. The only negative was that i think there may have been a drug deal going on across the street. But that isn't there fault. :)
(5)
Booze C.

Food is amazing!! Great atmosphere and service too :) The appetizers alone are super filling and make for a good full meal on the cheap.
(5)
Kk T.

This place it fabulous!!! I've eaten here twice on a groupon/living social and would pay full price. It's especially amazing since I'm a vegan and they have plenty of vegan/vegetarian options. Everything on the appetizers menu is bomb and their tea is phenomenal. Service is great and so is the food!!
(5)
Nadine D.

This place is great! My friends and I went here yesterday to celebrate a friend's engagement and the staff was very welcoming! They stayed open late just for us, we hooked up our music to the sound system, we danced, ate, and smoked hookah and everything was awesome! We all had a lot of fun :)
(5)
Lesley M.

I have not dined inside yet, but I have had take out many, many times. Everything I have tried is fantastic! I have had every vegetarian appetizer they make, the hummus and falafel are my favorite. The tabouleh is awesome too, just like my adopted Persian mama makes. The bread is the best I have ever had in any restaurant, it is so worth a visit The owner is always there when I go or send someone else to pick up food, he is very friendly. They always offer tea while I am waiting. Everyone I have dealt with here is friendly. The prices are very low. We get the appetizer combo, you pick 5 I think it is $13, we never finish it, it is a lot of food, good value.
(5)
Jenica D.

Interesting place. Totally empty for Tuesday dinner despite the "taco Tuesday" special. Beef shawarma on limp corn tortillas. Hmmm. The meats were tasty. We had chicken, beef and gyro. Bread was fresh-baked! The indoor seating was stuffy because the a/c was off on an 85Â° day. We were relieved that our beers were served w/ frosty mugs. Food was quite slow coming out. The server was nice but our check came out several dollars over what we owed.
(3)
Mackenzie K.

Wonderful for lunch. Their salads are amazing! The service is friendly and fast. The freshly baked bread is to die for. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Mariana M.

This place is delicious with incredible customer service. We tried the buffet and we really enjoyed it. All of the flavors and spices were very authentic. We will most certainly be coming back very soon and regularly.
(4)
Casey R.

I need to eat here more. The food is amazing and healthy. I have enjoyed everything I've eaten, including the vegetarian appetizers (the hummus and falafel are the best I've ever had), the Greek salad, the chicken, and the salmon. I don't make much money, but I need to make sure I eat here once a month. The prices are more than reasonable, and the service is excellent, with smiles and attentiveness.
(5)
Amanda R.

Just tried takeout from here for the first time last month and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is cuz I didn't dine in to get the full effect. But I took home a Greek salad and falafel sandwich that were both so good and very nice portion size, I actually kept eating it long after I was full because it was delicious. I'm a huge fan of Mediterranean food and I hold falafel to some high standards and Haritna definitely came through! I am glad to have them in my neighborhood and can't wait to try more items from the menu.
(4)
Miguel R.

This place was great! My girlfriend and I were visiting the San Diego area last weekend and ran across this place on yelp. Everything we had was great. I had Gyro pita with garlic fries. I could tell that the gyro meat was homemade and not something that came out of some box. My girlfriend had the chicken shawarma with regular fries. She liked what she had too. We were there on a Saturday and there was a belly dancer dancing to middle eastern music. That was a nice surprise. I think you should try out this place if you're in the mood for Mediterranean food.
(5)
Alexis F.

I have eaten at Haritna's multiple times now, always on Friday afternoons. I've always had a sampling of their appetizers and their delish bread. Always had a great experience, every single appetizer I've tried has been great, and the service is always friendly. Im giving 4, not 5, stars because they have been late to open 2 of the 5 times I've been there. Plus when the first open the service has been slow.
(4)
Kris S.

This is actually a good place. I like how you can have a hookah and you favorite hummus. What I really like is you can use Wi-Fi. However I am too cheap to buy a new laptop, and my current one is simply too embarrassing to be looked upon by the cute girls that work here. I don't think they would take me serious, or worse get me the kiddy menu to go along with my 256 Megabyte RAM/5 Gigabyte hard drive laptop. **Nerdy snort chuckle, pushing up taped black framed glasses* The service is super friendly and the food is delicioso. Let the girls hook you up with a hookah too. Good stuff!
(4)
Arlene B.

Great yummy food! Had the salmon kebabs for lunch and it came with rice. I assumed the rice was gluten free but it had vermicelli pieces in it, so when I told the server she and the manager were quick to fix my plate and allowed me to sub the baba ghanoush. So the salmon was excellent and perfectly spiced, the tahini salad was a nice different accent, but WOW the baba ghanoush was PHENOMENAL!!! Coming back for the same dish soon. :)
(5)
Tomas H.

This place is great! They had live jazz playing and didn't mind my four year old dancing like the little white boy that he is. My wife and I loved their food and our son even liked it. Our server was super friendly & all around awesome! Our food was sooooo good! It was a nice night out. Now that I know what a nice place it is, we can plan a night out here better without the little man next time. It seems like they have something going on every night of the week like comedy, jazz, belly dancing, even Taco Tuesday! With our check came a little survey. When we were leaving, one of the gentleman who worked there thanked us and asked us how they did. Everyone seemed to genuinely care about doing there job well and being very friendly. The gentleman even opened the door for us when we walked us out. That was very helpful & thoughtful since I was carrying our sleeping newborn in her car seat.
(5)
Paul B.

Tried the bowl of Fool. Was a wise and tasty choice that made me drool. Next, Stuffed grape leaves. Made me want to stay and stuff till I heave. Then was the Falafel, and it was the opposite of awful--awfully hot, fresh and tasty. Couldn't put it fast enough in my facey. Finally, there is the bread, homemade, fresh, hot, just out of the oven, ready to give your mouth some lovin'. Wanna come back and try the whole menu. For healthy, tasty food, this is the venue. Who says being a veg head can't be fun! 5 zucchinis up, gotta run!
(5)
Eric P.

Absolutely Fantastic Food!!!
(5)
Kelly F.

I would say this is the best Mediterranean restauratn I have been to in San Diego! Ghalayet Bandoura with ground beef was great! Bread was warm fresh and kept coming! Cucumber / Tomato Salad was crips and flavorful! Hummus was yum! Nice patio to sit on. Great service. Good portions. Decent prices. I would recommend sticking to sticking to lots of appetizers.
(5)
Brenna A.

Food was very good, great pricing and the wait staff was some of the best service I've had in a long time. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Logan K.

Let me start by saying that I used to love this place. As a matter of fact this used to be my go to Middle Eastern food spot in my area. I used to brag about this place to everyone, however, this recent experience was just unforgivable. I came here to finish some work on computer because it is quite and I could order some tea and a hookah and maybe an appetizer. My pot of tea and hookah came out promptly and my waitress was vey nice. After I drank my first cup of tea I poured myself a second cup. What came next was one of the most disgusting culinary experiences in my entire life. I noticed some bits floating in the tea but from my view point I just assumed that it was tea leaves or mint especially since I was mainly focused on my computer. But when I looked closer I saw no less than six roaches floating in my cup. I called over the waitress showed her the drink and she was just as astonished. She quickly carried away the tea and comped me the hookah. However, I had lost my appitite and I began to question both the cleanliness of the facility and the food preperation practices so I packed up my things and left immidiately. Not to mention I was absolutely furious and the nice waitress most certainly didnt deserve the brunt of my foul temper. Needless to say I will never be going back here again and I am also posting this review/ rating on facebook. I will personally discourage any of my friends from ever going there and I am seriously contemplating contacting the health department.
(1)
John R.

Best Mediterranean food we know of in San Diego. Portions are very generous and staples like Hummus and Falafel are to die for. Great place for vegetarians like us. Service is great and atmosphere authentic.
(5)
May M.

Thanks Yousif for the best henna party ever, Today we had our Henna party at this restaurant , the staff and the manager were super nice and cooperative, The food was delicious, the Arabic style was so perfect for our party, and what really made it different is the nice Manager ( owner) who helped even in the decorations and solving the problems, The food is amazing and everybody raved about the service, I will post post pix later for sure,
(5)
Joe S.

Came here with the wife to have some middle eastern breakfast and hookah. The food tasted great! Even though they make fresh loaves of bread to accompany the breakfast, I was surprise that they do not serve good ol pita bread :( how can a middle eastern restaurant not serve pita bread with out breakfast ?! Anyway, the food still tasted good and the hookah was so-so..
(4)
D T.

Interesting place. The food is good, depending on what you order. I liked the chicken kabob, my friend was disappointed by the beef shwarma. The service is great. When you walk in you almost feel like you're a guest in someone's house. The layout is quirky, there is outdoor hooka, there is sometimes entertainment, and they are very nice. Unfortunately, they do not have IPA beer or a craft beer selection or I would go more often. But they do carry Pyramid and they serve up brew in a very cold mug. The food is decent but like I said they have entertainment so that little combo is why its a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening. Worth checking out but don't expect anything too fancy.
(3)
Rebecca Z.

Fantastic! The owner and staff are really welcoming; they brought us lemon/mint water while we waited for our takeaway and played checkers. The food was GREAT! We've eaten there several times since and it hasn't disappointed. YUM!
(4)
Zedar B.

I met a friend for casual lunch here on a Saturday and it was not busy at all. I think this restaurant may be Palestinian. We really enjoyed the food, that it wasn't to expensive or loud, plus there was beer!
(4)
C L.

I don't praise blindly, but I can't say enough about the quality and ambiance of this little place, tucked away down a largely non-descript stretch of El Cajon Boulevard. Haritna, which I learned means neighborhood in Arabic, is unexpectedly warm and welcoming once inside. Very comfortable. The aroma that greets you is found in virtually every dish I have had on five or six visits now. The bread, baked rounds of Palestinian style, is to die for. And though I've never quite been one for belly dancing, like opera, I've learned the subtle beauty and now appreciate the art as well as the food here. Youssef, a nice, bear-of-a-man is the proprietor and has a particularly deft hand in the kitchen. He also does a good job translating the quality of this food to local residents who are new to the Middle Eastern fare. He also exhibits another trait I have found in the new Middle Eastern flavors found all over East County -- the portions of everything are enormous. Taking some home is de riguer and virtually all of it holds up nicely for the next day. Hummus and bread is all you need.
(5)
Al B.

great place to eat some mediterranian food. love the gyro n the fattoush salad is bomb... still have to try the other stuff on yhe menu
(4)
Gracie L.

Very Delicious! I recently attended a group event at Haritna and we were served buffet style with so many wonderful options and all the food was hot and fresh! I haven't eaten at many Mediterranean places, but this one was so good I'd definitely come back! Even though it's off El Cajon it has it's own private parking lot, which really helps because parking is bad off that street.
(4)
Kevin G.

I was meeting some friends at this place my first time theer.. great little hole in the wall. Must be a local to really know about it. Great patio.. our waitress was new so service sucked by overall great place. We ordered the Hookah and was good. We orderd food they had good specials 3 appetizers for $11 bucks. Cant go wrong with that. The pita bread is FRESHLY MADE. The hummus was AMAZING and the lamb was good too.
(4)
Chin C.

Great food! although the rice is a little too much on the oily side. hummus is very good!
(5)
AJ M.

I had such a wonderful meal here. The Salmon was fresh and tasty I brought a client and we both enjoyed a terrific meal.
(4)
Jessie B.

I found this gem on restaurant.com , The meat was seasoned to perfection & the saffron rice was amazing! I will be back again!:)
(4)
D W.

The Bread. Yes, the bread - always fresh, nice crust, wonderful flavor. We usually go there for the three appetizers special and share them as our meal. The Baba Ganough and Hummus are divine. We are working our way through the warm appetizers and just adore the Fool (fava beans). Tuesday is shwarma taco day, yummy. Read the rest of the reviews for great descriptions of the rest of the menu. Entertainment is great, the jazz is fresh and tasty, we thank singer Sharon Dubois for our first introduction to Haritna. There is a Comedian on Wednesdays and Jazz Jam band on Thursdays. Shortcomings, come early, they do run out of menu items and some of their beers on tap. Service is adequate and sometimes sparse but well intentioned.
(4)
Julia G.

I love this place. Their food is amazing, their staff are all extremely friendly, and the portions are HUGE for a very small price. My fiancÃ©e and I luckily got here in time for their happy hour (3-6 tuesday through thursday) and for $10 we got 5 appetizers. The happy hour appetizers were smaller than the usual portions-- I'd say about 1/2 the regular size. Between two of us, this was the perfect amount of food. I was a fan of Haritna when it first opened, but now, it has gotten even better. They seem to be hosting a lot of different events throughout the week, and we are definitely excited to check some of them out. The hookah prices are very reasonable, and you can sit outside on the patio smoking while enjoying a meal with friends. This place is great.
(5)
Jason T.

The food is great, there is a ton of it and it's cheap. You can't go wrong with this place. AWESOME value for your money. The bread they bring you is so good that you have to be careful not to fill up on it before your food actually comes. When it does come, there is a huge pile of food for you that barely fits the plate. It was so good in fact, that even though I was full, I kept eating. My GF and I ordered the falafel appetizer and two iced teas to start. For our meal I ordered the 1/2 chicken plate and she got the Beef Shewarma. Both came with salad and were piled on top of delicious basmati rice. After we ate our fill of the amazing falafel and bread, we ate maybe 1/3 of our meals. We planned to take some home for lunch the following day. Honestly, it will last us for two lunches EACH. The total bill with tip, was $35. If you do the math that's 2 meals with app, 4 lunches for $35. It doesn't get much better than that people. You may consider doing an appetizer and one meal if you don't want to take anything home. Also something to note, we went on a Tuesday and it was pretty quiet. However, I guess they do comedy on Wednesday, Jazz on Wednesday for free. Then belly dancing on the weekend sometimes with a $5 cover.
(5)
D W.

I was really waffling on how many stars to give this place. The Yelp description made it clear that "meh, I've had better." They weren't bad, but San Diego has become a hot bed for good Levantine food. Service was super friendly and helpful. Ambience was OK. I think the evening activities (belly dancing etc,) may have left e better impression. Our hummus was great. Heavy on the tahini which I like. The tabbouleh was kind lacking everything but parsley, but maybe that's just their family style. The beef shawarma was not that good. Very fatty and very grissley. So, they were bright spots but with competition as tight as it is, they need to polish some of the rough spots.
(2)
Beto C.

Excellent food! Awesome service! My wife and I had Greap Leaves and Tabouleh to start (delish!), then she had the Chicken Kabab plate and I had the Beef Shawerma (if you are a meat lover just like me, you will not regret to have this Finger licking' good dish). These two main courses are served with Basmati Rice and Green Salad (perfect side dishes for this). They where both really good and it is a lot of food! We really like the place and we will definitely come back and recommend to friends. The waitress Chantal was very nice with us and we had a great meal :)
(5)
Stan C.

I've been here numerous times & the food is always good. Service is slow sometimes, but that is due to the kitchen taking their time, but the food is always delivered hot & fresh! Where to start, the Hummus is flavorful & smooth (means made from dried garbanzo beans, not canned), the Baba Ganough is also good, but it has an earthy flavor, (I asked & was told that's because they coal roast the eggplant). The Falafel is hot, crunchy & perfectly spiced. The Fool, which I grew up eating for breakfast is delicious. The Tabouleh is another home run. The Fattoush salad is also delicious, if you haven't had it before, it comes with toasted pita bread chunks mixed throughout, that soak up the liquid. Give it a try. The Lamb Kidneys are always perfectly cooked, never rubbery & contain enough red pepper flakes for an enjoyable burn. The Kubbeh is also great, it's flavored well, but it seems to soak up too much oil. The Meat Pies are ok, you can pass. The Spinach Pies aren't my style, the bread is too thick for me, I prefer a thinner bread that soaks up the spinach juices. DON'T judge the Knafeh, it's no good & I never understood why places dye it orange. Knafeh is one awesome cheese desert when served fresh & hot from the oven, I haven't found a restaurant in san diego that can do knafeh justice, I guess I can always get it from grandma's house. The hookah is also a great choice after stuffing yourself, give it a try.
(4)
Andrew T.

I'm not sure that I ate at the same place that is getting all of these 5-star reviews. I will grant that the bread and falafel were stellar and are the only things that saved this from getting a 1-star. Wifey had the kifta kebab which was more or less burned, my lamb kebab was burned as well. The rice that our dishes came on was hopelessly overcooked/dry/flavorless. The food-court Greek place near my office blows this place out of the water. Other oddness: the music playing is completely random- Mexican, salsa, Arabic.
(2)
Alessandria R.

Yummy! So good. Large portions, friendly service & fresh bread. I highly recommend the pies. They're like thin crust pizzas with amazing cheese. Crispy, fresh & light. The BBQ chicken is delish feeding 2-3 people. The small "dips" are huge too. & did I mention this place is cheap! $8 chicken, $3 dips, $2 pies. You will be very happy you went. Arrive hungry..because you will be stuffed. Thanks yelpers! This place is going to be a new staple for my family & friends. _________________________________________________ Experience 2, 3, & 4 not so great: I do NOT recommend eating here on the weekdays.. must be a different cook because the taste is not the same. The food and hummus was not nearly as good. I ordered take-out the last time and the bread was really hard and the hummus and tabbouleh were extremely "vinegar" tasting. & not to mention the girl that works there isn't the best. Darn, I wish there were consistant, because I really fell for this place after my 1st visit..
(3)
Kathy C.

I absolutely loved this place!!! I read the reviews on Yelp, and I was feeling like a falafel, so I decided to give this place a try. I walked in around 7:30, and the place was so empty it looked closed, but I decided to walk in anyway when I saw what great prices were listed on the menu. When I walked in the waitress greeted me and asked if I wanted take out which I did, and I stood there looking at all the possibilities... Another older man walked out who I thought might have been the owner, and he was quick to offer his help and take my order. I give him my order, and just a split second later he asked me if I would like some tea...he asked it in a way that I assumed it was free...and it was. Great tasting tea with a fresh sprig of mint! He offered me a seat and said it would be about ten minutes, and that it was. The inside of the restaurant is visually appealing with lots of art, and that kept me busy for most of the ten minutes. They also have an outdoor patio where they also offer hookah. The food was awesome too! I ordered falafels and hummus- and it was so much food and cost $8 and some change. The hummus is such a big serving and it comes with 4 large pita like bread pieces that were so tasty! This place comes highly recommended and I will be back very soon for the champagne brunch! :-)
(5)
Aloha A.

Quick service, food was amazing! House special half chicken entree was so juicy, flavorful & the most import part-the skin was lip smacking crispy!!
(5)
James H.

Excellent food! A little pricey, but worth it.
(4)
Karim K.

Just OK. I am Arabic and have travelled to and eaten in many Middle Eastern countries. The food was just OK. The flies and bugs are disappointing. There are better options in the SD area.
(2)
serina c.

I have never had Palestinian food before but decided to get it a shot. I figured it would be very similar to Persian food and it was. I came here for lunch and when I walked in there was no other customers to be found. At first I thought about leaving but decided to stay just because of all the good yelp reviews. I did the buffet so I could try a little bit of everything. It was so good! I loved almost everything. Looks can be deceiving so give this place a shot.
(5)
Lara F.

Fresh ingredients, amazing spices and great prices! We're in the process of trying everything on the menu, though I often return to the grilled salmon. We could eat this food for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! Best beef shawarma we've ever had.
(5)
Michelle F.

So if you go on a Friday or Sunday you can feast on the buffet for $10. It's an amazing deal with a great selection of their dishes including LOTS of vegetarian choices. I especially enjoyed the "fool" which is a fava bean stew oozing with garlic and lemon flavors -- very yummy! There were also several delicious egglpant dishes -- great flavors. The standard dishes were also great such as the smooth hummos, smoky baba ganoush, and fresh tabouli salad. The only dish that disappointed me were the falafels. I think it's because they don't hold up well in a buffett -- they're better off freshly fried. Oh, and I almost forgot the best part: fresh, homemade, piping hot pita bread. Nothing like the boring stuff you buy at Von's. I guess they have hookah available on the patio but fortunately the indulgers are banished to the outside, so the restaurant itself is smoke-free. It's also decorated very nicely and has a relaxing vibe. Service was also spot on. This place is as good, if not better, than popular places such as Aladdin in Hillcrest and Ali Baba in El Cajon. I've learned that Haritna means "our neighborhood" in Arabic. Nice!
(5)
Emily R.

Where do I start?? dont be fooled by the location or the outside of this restauraunt. If you want a "five star", over priced, trendy downtown place, don't come here. That being said my friend and I rolled up to this place around 6:30 friday night and paid 0 dollars for parking right in front. Walked in and were quickly greeted and seated. Took a look at the menu. I already had an idea of what I wanted from recommendations from this page. I got the zuchini and eggplant appetizer, my friend got the tabouli. Both were fresh and delicious. Careful if you are hungry and salavating over the zuchini as it comes out fresh and hot, temperature hot. The warm bread to mix with your food, so good. My friend got the salmon plate, wow! is all I can say. HUGE pieces of fish, good size side salad and rice. I'm already looking forward to our next visit. Oh Friday nights they have a buffet that you can choose scruptious food to pile on your plate, I think all for 10 dollars. We werent aware of that, but will definetley be back for. Also, Sunday brunch 50cent champagne from 12-3. Are you kidding me? no, I'm not. For me I would add some juice to it and make it a delish mimosa.Good thing I live near by so I can stubble, I mean walk myself home and collapse on the couch into a mediterrean food. drink coma. That is all I have to say about this place, for now. Hope I don't see you there, that means more yumminess for me = )
(5)
Charmy M.

Large portions for cheap! Quality food. They have the best fresh bread that comes with any order of appetizers. Must-haves: labaneh and hummus with bread. Also love their falafels, tabouleh and fool. The manakeesh supreme is tasty and healthy, and don't forget the meat pie! Simple, fresh ingredients, can't get better than that. Did I mention the bread? I find that 3 appetizers is plenty for 2 people to share. You will have leftovers, and you'll be happy about it. Aside from dining you can enjoy hookah, comedy nights, and belly dancers. They are evolving to be a casual hangout place for locals if you want a place with some culture.
(5)
Brian B.

Great food for really cheap!
(5)
Sara H.

From the outside, the place looks a "hole in the wall." When we entered and saw just a few people there, I wondered how good it would be. What amazing food! We ordered the Arabic salad, the zucchini and eggplant appetizer, the garlicky bean appetizer, and the appetizer with green beans in a tomato sauce. So delicious. And there was even some left to bring home and enjoy the next day. The fresh-baked pita was also excellent. And it wasn't expensive at all. The ambiance is comforting. It is tastefully decorated and clean. I felt like lingering awhile, over tea and dessert. I even saw chess sets set up at tables near the door for people to use. Apparently they've been open a little over a year. In restaurant time, this isn't long. I plan to bring my friends and family, to share this little gem.
(5)
Josh B.

Easily the best Arab/Palestinian food in all of San Diego. Truly a hidden gem! And the very reasonable prices just make it that much better. DELICIOUS!
(5)
Jehan P.

3 stars for Haritna. Bad hookah but great food. My meal was absolutely delicious and generous portions too! I ordered the Half chicken which was so yummy, garlic fries are a must. Kanafe was pretty good also. But the missing two stars are from the hookah. I'm a picky experienced smoker and was so disappointed with my hookah that I ended up packing my own bowl, luckily they let me. I had to advise the waitress on the water amount and my hose had water all in it...as a middle eastern I would advise Haritna to invest in a experienced hookah maker, or thoroughly teach the girls how to make one. Overall good place.
(3)
Lynn E.

I love sampling different cuisines! Haritna is a treasure on El Cajon Blvd. with a humble store-front and entrance, but we were met with a warm greeting and seated quickly. The three of us enjoyed an exotic lunch of their recommended appetizers: Fool, Baba Ganough, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Fried Eggplant and their delicious fresh bread. A perfect way to sample Palestinian cuisine and, their warm hospitality. Our dishes were delicious. I'm looking forward to our next visit, when we can enjoy the entertainment and try more menu items!
(5)
Philip M.

Warm and authentic, dripping with atmosphere and host to unique events, This place is the best. The owner, Yusef, sets the tone, I'm sure, mingling with the guests as if we are family. His staff behave accordingly. The food is delicious, though I've not explored very far into their menu as I prefer the vegetarian offerings. Falafel sandwich is the best in town, the humus and freshly baked bread to die for. Peace in the middle east begins here.
(5)
Dan W.

The food was out of this world at this restaurant. Service was amazing, and the owner does make you feel like you are in his own home. The beef shwarma and bread they bring out is superb. I would definitely go back, and now they are serving hookah at night, after regular business hours... 9:30pm-2:30am :) Definitely going for some hookah with friends.
(5)
Alice L.

I'll give them a 3.5 - 4 stars. Their freshly baked bread is amazing here. I love when restaurants provide that service. :) I ordered the Chicken Kabab Sandwich with fries and Baba Ganough. The sandwich had a generous amount of chicken and I loved the yogurt sauce in it. The fries were okay. I prefer my fries crispy but these were too soft. I'm not a big fan of the Baba Ganough either. I didn't like the texture of it because it was too gooey and a little bit too tangy. Is this appetizer suppose to be prepared like this? They deserve 4 stars for their service. Our server was very nice and aware of our individual preferences. Keep up the good work! :) I'll come back for more freshly baked bread, to try other sandwiches and the hookah!
(4)
A L.

Excellent is the perfect word to describe every aspect of this little neighborhood restaurant that serves "traditional, healthy, hometown, authentic Middle Eastern cuisine." Haritna is located on the busy street of El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa and I would say it's an easy miss BUT don't miss the chance to try this place. You will be blown away by the level of service and quality of food. They have described on the website that when you walk in it's like being invited into someone's home and it really is. They even have a couch area with a table to play chess on. I really hope that people take advantage of this relaxing venue. Perhaps snacking on some of the exquisite tapas choices while enjoying the Hooka outside on their patio. A couple of us took advantage of the 5 tapas for $10 at happy hour time. How in the world can you beat that? We sampled the Hummus, Yogurt, Falafel plate, and Tabouleh. To be honest, I'm not a fan of Tabouleh in the first place, so I truly can't comment on that dish, but everything else was, dare I say, excellent. After the Tapas, we were absolutely stuffed and couldn't order a main enteree. That's fine by me. I don't need another reason to come back to this family run restaurant, but I sure do have an excuse now!
(5)
Amanda C.

Stopped by here on Saturday afternoon, and the place was completely empty. Kind of worrisome, but this place had such great reviews, the bf and I decided to still give it a chance. Service: The waitress was attentive enough during the meal and very friendly. However, about ten minutes later another couple came in who were apparently friendly with the owner. Although they came in a while after us, their drinks and appetizers started coming out while we still just had drinks. The owner walked by us several times to talk to this couple and make sure they were doing okay, while we sat at our table, poking at our entrees. He came by once at the end of our meal to try and sell us an invitation the a party they were having soon.. $10 minimum for entry. No thanks. Food: We ordered the meat pie and cheese pie as appetizers, which tasted plain, but not bad. Meat pie tasted more like a sloppy joe than Mediterranean cuisine. My chicken kabob plate was disappointing. Every piece of chicken was totally burnt on at least one side, onions were not cooked all the way through but burnt at the edges, rice was very dry and unappealing, salad leaves were not fresh. Bf's gyros plate was just as plain. Meat was very, very dry. We will not be back.
(1)
Mike m.

I didnt give them 5 because I do not consider myself a expert in middle eastern food, like to eat it but have not tried out enough places to claim to be a pro. The reason is I keep asking "what is this??" what I do know is the place is clean decoration is great and the staff is very friendly. Did I say how moist the chicken and beef kabobs are??? were not overcooked and dried out at all. Rice was fluffy and plentiful. I tried out couple of appetizers.......and finally the fresh bread....ahhhh man to kill for. freshly made.......with the hummas man....my mouth is starting to water. Im sure this place is a 5 but again dont have much to compare to so the 4 should not relect on this place I will start being a regular here the staff is very helpful for the rookies like myself. Keep up the good work this place rocks and is delicious!!
(4)
Valerie D.

I love this place, I started out hating the server because my 1st time here he was jumpy like a tweeker fricking running back and forth to please everyone and this bothered the heck outta me but then I drank some beer and laughed a bit. Now I return and enjoy seeing the chaos, my friend and him got a long as soon as they locked eyes and my boyfriend accidentally called him a she once because his hair is long.. but this is just one great thing about haritna lol ANYWAYS!!! on to the food.. EVERYTHING is good here. Seems like they don't make the pies anymore but when they did it was amazing. GET A SMALL because the portions are huge. All dishes I've ever ordered have been cooked to perfection! The atmosphere is pretty cozy as well. Also they have all you can eat (not sure about the day/price)
(5)
Patrick O.

Best Mediterranean food I have found. The gracious owner Josef makes you feel as if you are dining in his house. I never was a fan of felafels but loved these. As Josef said they are the best this side of Palestine and he is not kidding. I loved them and everything else. Going back to try the hooka in the outside dining area. Can't wait.
(5)
James C.

House special chicken was good. Could have used a sauce for the breast portion though. Falafels were fresh. W groupon great deal!
(5)
Renee R.

Everything here is SO good. The hummus, fresh bread, falafel, grape leaves, oh my gosh. Everything. So delicious. I always get the vegetarian plate & my husband gets the falafel sandwich. You get a ton of food for a great price & we've always had wonderful service & plenty of leftovers to take home. Topped off with some arabic coffee, it is perfection.
(5)
Amir R.

This place is great. The owner and staff are awesome. We order from them frequently for the office. They are well priced with great quality food. Their Chicken Kabob and their Kifta Kabab are so tender and well seasoned but their Baba Ganough and bread is to die for. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Larry G.

A real find along the corridor of a car dealership wasteland. Humdrum exterior belies a charmingly immaculate dining space. Intriguing Palestine-related tchotchkes attractively spread throughout. Fluffy hummus, pleasantly lacking store-bought overblending, still had chick pea fragments immersed, creating grip for dipping, topped off with a drizzle of olive oil, arrived with fresh out of the oven flat circular rolls, unlike what I've ever had at any other Arabic/Mediterranean place. The bread was so satisfying, we got a half dozen to go. The variety of vegetarian appetizers was appealing, given the lack of veggie options in Lamesa. Along with the hummus, we ordered "fool," a fava bean centered dish mixed with lemon, garlic, olive oil, and spices. Normally, I dislike the waxy texture of fava beans, as well as its cockroach size, but these were cooked down and slightly mashed; a comforting bowl on a cool day. We also got the fried eggplant, which had a nice crisp outer texture and a meaty inner core. The eggplant was cut into wheel shaped pieces, making them ideal for holding a dollop of hummus. Our main dish was a falafel sandwich. Gone seem to be the days of the stuffed pita. This one's a pita wrapped around the falafel ingredients. The pita was sturdy enough to assuredly hold the content. The falafel balls had just enough crunch, and parsley was delicately added to the garbanzo mix. The tahini did not overpower, lending a wanted compliment. I can't wait to explore their other menu items.
(4)
Jess S.

I've waited a while to write this because I wanted to be sure, but I'm now positive that this is my favorite restaurant in greater San Diego. I've never had anything that was less than amazing here. I've been several times, and have been wowed by the service. More importantly, though, the food. I leave full but good feeling every time. Like, completely satisfied, but also healthy. Their falafel are delicious, the shwarma is great, and their iced tea is yummy. I dream of this roasty tomato dish (I forget the name). They also have live music and entertainment.
(5)
ze B.

people: this is a great place! another 5 stars review for this one, they have been in business for two years (the owner told me). well deserved. food is very good and in large amounts. my favorite would be the hummus, the fava beans dish and the eggplant/zuchini. grape leaves were awesome too. the bread was fresh but only ok, nothing to take a star away for that though. ambiance is VERY friendly. price is inexpensive for what it is. we did not go to the restroom so i can't comment on that (other reviewers complained about it) but parking was easy. solid 5 stars for the food. it appears they do have substantial live performances (jazz, belly dancing...) so be aware of that when you go. enjoy.
(5)
Nicole M.

We were beyond pleased and surprised when we ate here on a Wednesday night with the family. Based our decision mainly on Yelp reviews and, Yelpers, you did NOT disappoint with this one!! The ambiance surprised me, not much of a looker on the outside but they did a great job inside. All 6 of us had the family plate. Rice for days, though I could not eat it because they use vermicelli pasta with their basmati rice and sadly, on my allergy no-no list. It looked amazing though and my family put a nice dent in each of their servings. We also got: Hummus (EXCELLENT) Cucumber yogurt (also EXCELLENT, very nice and tangy/garlicky) Green beans (pretty average but the sauce was good) Baba ganoush (not my favorite but it was well liked at the table) Arabic salad (super refreshing crisp and tangy) Tomatos with meat (big hit at the table, very nicely spiced) Kubbeh (I couldn't eat this but it was raved about and smelled amazing) Lamb Kidneys (i tried this but I am just not a kidney fan. Family loved it) Bread was well received at the table, fresh... and it just kept coming. French fries (To dip in hummus in place of bread. Could be crispier) Naqanik (the most amazingly spiced sausage I have ever eaten in my entire life. Little morsels of heaven, with the perfect texture. I could probably just eat those dipped in hummus all night and be a happy camper) I wish they had just plain basmati rice so I could enjoy a starch other than the fries. And maybe something without flour for dessert. But that's wishful thinking. I STILL give this place 5 stars, because there is a lot I can eat here and its all pretty darn amazing. Nice ending with a little table-side pot of Arabic coffee. The only way to describe the taste is to imagine that its being poured out of a 1,000 year old genie's lamp. Kind of this interesting mustiness to it, but rich and satisfying. :) And we thought the owner was great... chatted with us about his family recipes, was very attentive, interested in our feedback and all around a great host for the evening. We will be back here, for the price and unique flavors, you cant beat it. We want to come back for the BBQ Chicken!!!
(5)
Mathew C.

Fantastic Fool and Kabobs. Great Knefah. Large portions. Good prices. This will become a regular place for my wife and I.
(4)
Edward A.

Food was good and nicely proportioned. Reasonable price too. My only problem was with the waitress, who was kind of an Arabic valley girl. She was nice but not terribly attentive. Seemed to be chatting it up with a friend on the patio as I was waiting for delivery of the beer I had ordered 10 minutes earlier.
(3)
Sashur R.

This is strictly the only place where I order Mediterranean food. I went there tonight to pick some food up. I got the chicken kabobs, which are amazing. They are perfectly marinaded and flavored and then cooked so tenderly. Never dry! The greek salad is my favorite. The feta tastes so fresh and delicious. I told the owner that this is the only place I like to go for this type of food, and he even gave me a little dessert to take home! All their desserts are so deliciously amazing, they have to be guilty pleasures.
(5)
Diane A.

My boyfriend Brian and I went to Haritna tonight and could not have been more pleased. We, like many Yelp reviewers, ordered way too much, but it was all delicious and I can't wait for leftovers tomorrow. We ordered the kifta kabab, the chicken kabab, the large falafel appetizer, a meat pie, and two beverages for $25 - an amazing deal. Both kebab dishes were extremely tender and flavorful. The portions are generous and the prices are unheard of. Cost aside, I would rate this place 5 stars based on flavor alone. I am eager to go back and try some of the other dishes at Haritna. We have lived in San Diego for a long time and been to a lot of Mediterranean restaurants. This one outshines them all.
(5)
Cynthia M.

One of my favorite places! Great hummus and appetizers. Veggie platters are the best.
(4)
Cristy B.

We heard about this place via Groupon. The location is odd but that explains their low prices. For the value, this place gets 5-stars. We had the babba ganough and green beans appetizers (both came with the house made bread), meat pie appetizer and chicken kabab entree. There was so much food we had to pack up 3 boxes to bring home and we'll have enough for two more meals. All the food was delicious. They have a good selection of beers on tap. The service was friendly and it's just a great environment to have a relaxing meal in.
(5)
Misha A.

Yikes! We ate here totally based on its Yelp reviews but now I am really questioning what's going on and if people are swayed by the prices vs. the quality of the food. The first indicator that things were not right was that we pulled up right in front on a Friday night and there was no one in the restaurant. No one. Don't you think if it was all that there would be at least a few people there? We ordered a lot of the different appetizers. As some of the Yelp reviews indicated, the falafel is amazing. Tastes like something that someones grandma made vs. the rock hard balls that you normally get. The bread is also good and served warm, although I have to admit that I prefer the bread at the Vine Ripe market better. I wonder if the people who raved about the baba ganush realize that this is supposed to have *eggplant* in it? What we were served was nothing more than tahini sauce with oil poured over it. I am pretty sure that it was out of a can and someone tried to make it look like it was homemade. Hmmm. We ordered the french fries and they were pretty good. They tasted like they were made from potatoes fresh and not something frozen like I make at home. We also ordered the chicken which I didn't like. While it was juicy it also had some sort of spice on it (sorry, I can't identify it) that I really didn't like. I couldn't even finish one piece. The rice was crunchy and seemed sort of like it was old or left over. Many of the items we tried to order, spinach pies, cheese pies, etc. were not available according to the waiter. The owner, in spite of what was reported here, spent most of the time we were there sitting in the back smoking as though he could care less whether we stayed or not. Thanks for (not) caring, I won't be back.
(1)
Mel M.

I have only Yelp to thank for this amazing discovery. While driving home from Julian, I used my iPhone app to search for a place to eat. Little did I know that I would discover the best Arabic/Mediterranean joint in San Diego! The "small" appetizers are 3-4$, but are anything but small. We ordered the eggplant with meat, baba ganoush and meat pie. All were incredible and exemplified authenticity! For entrees, we ordered the half BBQ chicken and the kefta/chicken kabob combo. Each entree was 8$ and were out of this world. At the end of the meal, the owner came out and gave us a free, homemade, pistachio cookies. I cannot recommend this place enough to anyone that enjoys Middle Eastern fare. Side note: this place 4-5 beers on tap, including Widmer Hef and Shock Top- all for 3.50 a pint! They also have a hookah lounge on the patio- wow!
(5)
Raffi M.

My cousin and I just moved to San Diego from Los Angeles, and we were looking for some Middle Eastern food like our family makes back home. Needless to say, this is the place to go. Everything is great about this place, from the prices, to the food and service. First off, they bring you fresh warm bread, which is always great. I'm used to the small portions of places back in LA, so we got an order of Hummus, Tabouleh, French Fries, and Kubbeh. We also order a Beef Kebab Plate and a Chicken Kebab Plate. The portions of the appetizers were HUGE. We couldn't even finish the appetizers, much less the entree's themselves. After we were done, it looked like we had made a to go order, because we had two huge bags of food to take home. Everything we ordered was delicious, just like the family makes back home. The service was great, and the atmosphere was nice and laid back. I'm definitely coming here again, as its really close to SDSU. We also ordered a hookah, which was a lot better than some of the other places around San Diego. I would recommend this place to anybody, because I'm sure you'll be leaving with a full stomach along with heavy wallet.
(5)
Theresa P.

loooove it here! The staff is super friendly and the food is amaaaazing!! The food is very moderatley priced, but tastes great! I'm a vegetarian and love to get the veggie plate. I always have leftovers, the portions are big. I have been for the Sunday brunch, and that is as good as it gets, there is so much variety and you have the option to try many things you might not have thought of ordering on a regular night. My friends are carnivores and they haven't had any meat dish that they didn't love. The bread that they serve instead of pita bread is to-do-for, easpecially when it comes straight out of the oven. They have comedy night, jazz night, and belly dancing, which I've honestly never stayed for, but see people coming in just for that. As well, this doubles as a hookah bar. Aside from the delicious food, it's got something for everyone!
(4)
Omar C.

Haritna is great, the staff is very nice and attentive. Went in with my wife after seeing the reviews from Yelp, and we weren't disappointed. We had the Shawarma plate and the Falafel. Both were very tasty and the hummus is the best I have had in San Diego. The owner came to our table and was very nice and made us feel at home. After dinner we had hookah on their patio which was also great. This place has great food, entertainment and hookah and at an extremely reasonable price, I don't know how they do it. Will definitely be coming back to Haritna when we are in San Diego.
(5)
Jared S.

I rate this a "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" for the hospitality, food and hookah. I had the baklava, fool, hummus, fava beans, tea and hookah. Price was lower than other restaurants for great quality. I hear they have $2 pints or something also for their beers on tap, but I'd call to find out. Worth the trip!
(5)
Rachel B.

Went here on a saturday night for dinner with a friend. They have a special for 5 small appetizers for $14. Got to try a few apps and they were ok. Service was below bad and probably the second worst service I've ever had. Guy took 10 minutes to come back with 2 lukewarm beers. The chicken was cold in the middle. Hummus and falafel were actually pretty good. After waiting 10 minutes ford a second beer I went up to the bar area to get someones attention. Dead bugs everywhere and lots of flies around the bar. End of appetite. End of story.
(1)
Amanda M.

Great food, great service, RIDICULOUSLY low prices!!!! I don't even know how this place makes money, seriously. Had to come here once a week after trying this place :) Favorite dishes are the fattoush salad and the baba ganough. The hummus here is amazing, and they bring you as many plates of hot bread as you can eat!
(5)
Mickey L.

Took forever to get our food but when did the portions were huge!
(4)
nozomi y.

We went back to Haritna for two nights in a row---and were wowed by Haritna quality even more. Dishes we loved: Kubbeh--Unbelievably crispy croquette-like meat appetizer. There was no wet-oiliness often associated with deep-fried food. I cannot stop wondering how they make it even. Their food is so cheap and high quality.
(5)
Rick K.

To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting much from this restaurant because I'm not a huge fan of this kind of food - until now! Wow, I have become convert. Word to the wise: Come Hungry. The two of us ordered five "small" $3.00 appetizers and two entrees. Before the third appetizer came out, we were nearly full - each of them were nearly a meal in themselves - and each one more delicious than the next. They are served with homemade flat bread that was so good we bought a bag to bring home - along with enough leftovers for two meals. The service was excellent too. For those who like that kind of thing, there is a hookah patio - looks like it will be fun in the summer. Give this place a try - you will NOT be disappointed - or leave hungry.
(5)
Chris C.

Hummus cucumber yogurt is omg, so cool and soothing and wonderful with a POP of garlic! The fresh baked bread is warm and light and, dipped in the lovely hummus, will melt your pants off! Ohhhh boy. The grilled chicken is juicy with a great crispy skin - the grilled veggies are generously portioned with a lovely bbq flavor and the rice is aromatic and plump. The coffee - really ... not that great sweet but very rich and fresh and served tableside with a sweet little turkish kettle/carafe. This is a simple and tastefuly decorated family venue with a lot of hope in a not great location; I wish they much success. We'll be going back!
(4)
Theresa G.

Where do I start? My taste buds were in for a surprise I can tell you that much. A happy surprise. We started off on the safe side with two ice cold refreshing glasses of Coca Cola. We ordered the Hummus, Babaganoush, and Tabouleh. O_O AMAZING. I cannot describe the delisiousness. Just go. NOW. Try it. The pita bread was ever so soft to the touch. Each bite into this doughy concoction of heaven was amazing. It was the BEST homemade pita bread I have had in my life. Moving on to the main course.... I had ordered the House specialty BBQ Chicken. Um wow. All I can say is that the portions are hugeeee. It was like a full chicken placed ever so lightly on top of rice. No joke. The dinning partner had ordered the Kifta Kabob with Basmati Rice. Of course he shared. The Kifta was well seasoned and juicy to the bite. (my mouth is watering as I type I shall eat left overs after this entry). The pairing of the Kifta, Basmati rice, and the small piece of bbq'd tomato was a symphony to my taste buds...they were singing Hallelujah. As a side order we indulged in some spinach pie and meat pie. If I had to pick one I would totally order and reorder over and over again the Meat pie. It kind of looks like a pizza. Not going to lie at first I was like whaaaaaatt? Meat pie? I didnt think it would be like....amazing. As a dessert, we ordered the Knafeh. It was so tasty. It is hard to explain the sweetness of Rose and yes my friends, cheese in between the Knafeh dough. This sweet little sweetness complimented the Mint tea we had ordered and then finishing up with the Arabic Coffee, which is amazing if you are into espresso-like drinks. All of this was a feast for such a great price! We had so much food (for two) that we had about 5 boxes to take home! This my friends is my testimony. Now go and indulge in amazingness.
(5)
Aimee W.

This a great little Palestinian place - I don't even like falafel but theirs is fantastic and I get it every time I go. Other favorites are the spinach pie, and hummus. Prices really can't get any better than this - and the quality and service are great. The owner is super nice and truly cares that his customers leave happy. A couple places they can improve: More "meal" options, more than anything I usually feel like I'm eating a bunch of appetizers. Better beer selection.
(3)
Thulasi O.

Very good food and service. Exceptional were the home made pickles and the bread, you wont get this fresh baked bread anywhere else; like a cross between Pita and Italian bread. The cold appetizers ranged from good to excellent, ditto the hot ones. I would have preferred the hummus a bit smoother, but that is a minor quibble. The owner and server were both very nice and friendly. Also, the portions were huge, you literally get double or more quantity than other arab restaurants. Will be back, for sure...
(4)
Rafee J.

I was raised in a Middle Eastern family and grew up eating this food. Although my mom's home-cooking will always taste the best to me, I can say with confidence that this food is AUTHENTICALLY prepared and tastes great! The falafel are soo good!
(5)
Alessandro T.

Belly Dancing Night once x month on the first night of every month starts at 8pm it is all beautiful...got to try it!
(5)
Vanessa L.

The food was okay, it was pretty bland but it was my first time trying Mediterranean food. Our waitress was very friendly though and helpful. They have a cool little hookah section outside on the patio and some sort of stage inside for singing I suppose...
(3)
Miki L.

**Review for Hookah Only** My girlfriend and I decided to do a Middle Eastern night and stopped by Alforon for dinner and then Haritna for Hookah with friends later that evening. There were a ton of hookah places in between, but the people we were meeting stated this was the best. Those who I refer to as "the Russian mafia" had ordered prior to our arrival and were sitting out back munching and smoking. We headed back inside after our hellos and ordered. I almost died when I saw the delicious platters of desserts from mammoul to namoura and bak;ava. Luckily, I had just eaten otherwise my dinner that night would have been sweets, and sweets alone. My girlfriend and I always have a difficult time deciding which tobacco to get as we have different tastes, so we asked the waitress which is her fave. She suggested the Blue Melon, which is not listed on the menu, so we decided to give it a go. We also ordered a glass of black tea and a glass of mint tea and the staff were very on top of keeping the pots of tea at our table full and fresh all evening. The hookah came out with this wire contraption around it (I guess to prevent the coal from burning us if it tipped over). It was so smooth and delicious!! Seriously, Ive smoked hookah for many years and in San Diego, this was one of the best that I've found!! We sat outside chit chatting and drinking tea for what seemed only a short bit, but turns out we had been there for a while and I was shocked to see that it was 11:30pm -- especially since the restaurant closes at 10pm! I guess since this group is there so often, the owner goes out of his way to accommodate them, which is way cool. I will defiantly have to try the food next time around, as I hear its quite tasty!
(4)
Daniel H.

We dined outside on the porch. The atmosphere outside was very casual and nice despite being right next to a bustling El Cajon Blvd. The chairs and table outside were a little dusty but otherwise clean. We ordered a small lamb kidney and spicy sausage appetizer. For being a small order we got a lot of food along with bread. WIth two people eating we were nearly full by the time the main course arrived. Both the spiced meatball kabab and special BBQ chicken came on a giant bed of basanti rice along with a small salad that included pickled vegetables. The BBQ chicken entree came with half a chicken and was cooked to be flavorful and juicy, not dry and tough. Great service and flavorful food. Will eat here again!
(4)
Karl M.

Haritna has great food at very good prices. The outside seating is nice, although all the hooka smoke can be annoying if you don't like that. I especially love their fool, hummus, and fresh bread. They have a great deal with three vegetarian appetizers and fresh bread for real cheap. The lamb kabob was tough but the flavor of the meat was delicious. I was surprised how decent the salmon kabob was. The staff are super friendly and warm. Great place!
(4)
Matthew M.

This place was great. I ventured in based on a quick audit of previous yelp reviews and was not disappointed. I went with my family and we tried a number of appetizers, which were all very good and generously portioned. The hummus was great, which was accompanied by as much of the delicious fresh bread as we needed. I had the 1/2 chicken (house specialty), which was significant for two reasons. First, I never order chicken in restaurants (finding a place that doesn't completely dessicate it is surprisingly tough). Second, this dish was really good. The rice might have been hanging out a little long, but I was still sorry I kept it waiting. The green salad wasn't bad (not just a pile of iceberg lettuce) and the portions were enormous. I'm using the leftovers for tomorrow's lunch and I'm still not certain I'll finish it. Best of all, the service was great. Erica took care of us and did so with impeccable timing. She apologized for a wait at one point, which was hardly a wait - she was always there when we needed her and never showed up without a genuine smile. She made a pretty good experience great. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Miss K.

The food here is absolutely delicious and it's run by such wonderful people. The service and food is consistently excellent! I highly recommend the veggie sandwich and hummus! Mmmm...such good hummus!
(5)
Cricket O.

I ate here last night, wow the food was great, the service was very friendly and competent. I'll be back often, even thought it's kind of a drive from Normal Heights.
(5)
IBmama I.

After reading many reviews, went Friday for lunch with my daughter and ordered 3 appetizers plus she ordered schwarma..I'm very familiar with this kind of food. No question that the food/bread was superb (the dessert KNAFEH is worthy of legends), service friendly and efficient (she apologized when a big party came in and delayed an order), enjoyed the owner/chef coming out to talk. Felt like I was back in East Jerusalem eating felafel, babganoush, Arabic coffee and more. It would be nice, as a Diabetic, to have an option of whole wheat bread. Would be willing to pay extra. However, had I gone to the women's bathroom BEFORE my meal, not sure I would have stayed: despite having read reviews that mentioned problems, I was shocked. There is no excuse for the condition there: the area around the door handle filthy, floor filthy, behind the door probably hasn't been mopped in months, etc. Also there is a curtain between the kitchen and the serving prep area: again grimy, looks like hasn't been washed ever or in months. Waitress Chantal was wearing an apron that was also dirty/oily. Why is this continuing and/or happening at all? If it wasn't for the inexcusable bathroom and general need for a deep cleaning of the place, we would have voted this 5 stars.
(4)
Ales U.

One of the best stylish restaurants we have ever been. If you have a chance go there when they ha belly dancing and live singer. Hookah Shisha better than in Egypt. Service great, food delicios. Ales a Radka
(5)
Lindsay M.

The bread is fresh and tasty. Warm and soft, like it should be. It's amazing and they give you as much as you want, which is great since they give you a huge portion of hummus. The sandwiches were good and their fries were the norm. The restaurant was empty when we got there, but it was deceiving, as everything lived up to its 4.5 star rating on yelp. Prices were cheap too.
(5)
Fatima N.

I only order appitizers! They have a awesome selection and everything is good! I love the hummus and fool. Beware!! Very large portions! Waiters and Waitress are friendly and awesome.. Park in the back :)
(4)
Ellen M.

Absolutely amazing is all I have to say! We had a few of their vegetarian appetizers (fantastic hummus, impressive falafel, great stuffed grape leaves) and then a gyro sandwich which was also delicious. The homemade bread that comes with the hummus was great, so great that I ate the leftovers today and had to write this review!
(5)
Damon D.

Absolutely impressed with this place. The food never fails, the prices are brilliant (3 appetizers for $13? Sweet Jesus!) Fried eggplant melts in your mouth. Their bread might be the one food I wouldn't mind eating for the rest of my life. I could go on, but just... try everything. It's all great. The ambiance is fantastic when it picks up; they had great live entertainment one night I went, a jazz keyboard player. Hookah was pretty nice, and they had a great little gazebo/patio deal you can just hang out in all evening after being stuffed to capacity with such delicious food. There are so many places to try out in San Diego, and only so much time. This is the one place I always head back to.
(5)
Rachel B.

We went here on Friday night for a late dinner. We got in about 8:30 and there was only one other couple in there eating. They have a buffet on Friday nights for $10 a person and we all ordered that so they brought out some fresh dishes even though we were the only people in the whole place. Apparently it was a really weird Friday for them. My daughter was getting antsy at the table and they offered to take her on a tour so we could eat. The food was good, they added our bill up wrong but then fixed it after we pointed it out.
(4)
Phil V.

Wow! I was VERY impressed! Really simple establishment, nothing fancy, but it's amazing how much when you walk in the door you feel like you're part of their family. Great service and the food was impeccable! I will go back as often as I can and I live in Point Loma!
(5)
Len R.

Have been a fan since our first visit, we were lucky enough to be served by the owner, "Yousef" sorry if the spelling is wrong. But he is a genuine soul, who knows his way around a kitchen. The flavors, and freshness of this place have almost never disappointed. His hummus is amazing, as well as the mafgousa, now it may not look so great at first, but it is worth a try. I have not yet tried the buffet, but the kabobs and the half chicken entree are always my favs. They're not stingy on the appetizers so bring an appetite. The only negative is its not around the corner from my house.
(5)
Matt R.

This was one of the most fantastic, reasonably priced Palestinian dinners I have had between Los Angeles and San Diego! The dishes were subtly spiced and had amazing flavor. The salmon kebab was excellent and had a wonderful ginger flavor. The lamb kebab was likewise fantastic. The fool appetizer and the falafel appetizer were both well made. The service was superb and attentive, despite the place being busy. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. You must try this place.
(4)
Joe F.

I try to hit Haritna anytime I'm the area. This time I had a 3 day business trip from Lemon Grove all the way up to Escondido and I managed to eat there all three days! Day 1 (Wed): I showed up at 9PM when I was arriving into town and I had a delicious Beef shawerma sandwich and a little baklava for desert. A very funny comedian was concluding her act as I finished up my meal. Day 2 (Thurs): I had a half-Chicken (Their specialty). I could only eat about half of it and I was full and content. I did save up a little bit of room to have a little bit of Baklava again. A very talented Jazz band was playing that night and they were terrific! I may have filled up a little bit too much on their incredible baked bread but it was worth it! Day 3 (Friday): I tried the Gyro for the first time there and really enjoyed it. It wasn't too greasy like a lot of gyro meat I've tried in the past. Because it was in between lunch and dinner, there wasn't any entertainment yet. I skipped on dessert since I had a long drive back home to Arizona. I want to thank everyone at Haritna. Chantal, V, Vienna and Amira and of course.. Yousef. You always make me feel like "family" !
(5)
M. A.

The first time I visited Haritna was a day or two after it opened. I was extremely pleased with how well the food tasted and how extremely reasonably priced everything was. The service was outstanding as well. In my subsequent visits I have found each experience to be consistently satisfying. I love everything I've had here, the prices just can't be beat and the service is always so wonderful. The Knafeh is to die for! The hookah patio is awesome!
(5)
Knikki R.

Allah ahkbar! This place is da' bomb- we had veggie combo it was like $14.00 and was enough food for 4 people. Their fava beans were tangy & firm with just enough spices to keep it real- the baba ganoush was maybe the best I've ever had. I bought a "Groupon" for this place for $8 & if they run it again I'm gonna max-out on the deal! If your in La Mesa check 'em out- BTW, very clean, very friendly, not too busy - a hidden jewel!
(5)
linda b.

Wonderful food & great service. Love their chicken kabobs, gyros, salad & hummus. Hot tea served with fresh mint is so refreshing. One of my favorite finds. They catered a lunch meeting for 20 at my church, and everyone raved about the food. Give them a try!
(5)
Eff S.

Second time was no charm. I really wanted to enjoy Haritna, but it was another disappointing experience. This time I tried the Kifta Kabob(overcooked, dry), and the Kubbeh(ok tasting, fried, meat-wheat ball). The service, isn't the problem. It's the food. And don't get me wrong, it's not terrible, just not flavorful and worthy of paying these prices. Unfortunately for Haritna, there are too many other Mediterranean restaurants that do good food, all the time.
(2)
Azra P.

went to haritna last night and it was pretty busy! wow! great! orderd 3 cold appetizers, 3 hot appetizers, and the special of arab asada fries. all super freakin delicious. they never dissapoint!
(5)
Jesiah A.

The food was delicious! We had great bread and hummus. We had the chicken Kabob and the Beef Kabob. Both were really good. The portions were huge and the prices cheap. I will definitely be going back!
(5)
Emily G.

Super yummy. My new favorite! Went once and it was freezing inside. Also went once and the bread was not as fresh as the time before. Otherwise, I would've given 5 stars.
(4)
Mione C.

We got a Groupon for this place and, boy am I glad we did! The hummus is the best I've had in San Diego. You get a Ton of food at a great price. The chicken kabob is super moist and tasty. The little chopped salad they put on the plate is yummy and I'd never had it before. The interior was a little cold the time we went, so I ordered hot tea. It was delicious! Our waitress was excellent and we really enjoyed our meal. We'll be going back soon!
(4)
Diana B.

Love, love this place. The chicken kebab is so good and tender. Food is always fresh. You must try the bread, it is made fresh by the owner. His dessert, kanafeh is out of this world. I enjoy sitting on the patio and having the appetizers - everything is fresh. If you are a vegetarian - this is the place for you. If you love meat - his kebabs are great..
(5)
Andrew H.

Oh my Muhammad Ali..... This stuff is great... All the food was amazing.... Get the fried eggplant & babba g
(4)
Kate B.

Yummy! Everything was fantastic! Fresh, aromatic, and flavorful. Our server was great! Prompt, friendly, and treated us as though she knew us for years. Ill be back for sure!
(5)
Gina S.

To start this is my first time at this Restaurant, if Yelp allowed more than 5 stars this place get AT LEAST 10 stars. Going to this restaurant gave me a flashback of my deployment to the Middle East (on a good note) The food was fabulous. My taste buds did the happy dance. I definately Highly recommend
(5)
LUCILE C.

We came here with a group of 28 which did not at all faze Ekhlas and Eric who acceded to even our unreasonable demands. Everyone was pleased with the wide assortment of appetizers, the delicious kabobs, the to-die-for freshly baked bread, and the wonderful desserts. Mostly, all were pleased at how hard everyone tried to make us feel completely at home, like family... Enthusiastically recommended!
(5)
Kyle H.

Very good prices. I've been going here for a while. I love the lamb kidneys, even though it sounded a little scary at first. The reason I give them 5 stars, however, is because they have the best hookah I've ever had!
(5)
Sander R.

Excellent! The ful is not to be missed!
(4)
Robert Q.

After reading all the five star reviews here we were excited about going there for dinner. I have never been to a Yelp reviewed restaurant 4+ stars that didn't deserve it but this place was shocking, the first one star I've ever given, but in all fairness that's what it should get. We arrived at 8pm on a Saturday night and were greeted by a gentleman in a very ho hum way. There was only ONE girl working, about 20 years old and in all fairness to her, she was running EVERYTHING. But getting worked hard is no excuse for a bad attitude. The gentleman sat us down with menus but we weren't checked on for about another 15min. The waitress was very short with us, didn't talk at all except to take our order. It took our order over 35 min to get to us and we ran out of water TWICE in the meantime, both times we waited and waited and the waitress just walked by, we finally had to ask for refills. Our order arrived just as we were discussing leaving. The waitress gave a very insincere apology and stated the Chefs got confused (I don't know what that means either). She did say that desserts were on the house so we had some hope this would get better but it didn't. During the entire meal we were never checked on, not once. We had beef and chicken kabobs and both were pretty dry. Cucumber yogurt was ok. Portions were good and we wanted doggy bags, we waited...and waited...and waited. After about 10-15 min my Girlfriend had to get up and find the waitress who then dropped two containers on our table with "here", as we were putting the food in the containers she came back and asked if we wanted refills...NOW? Oh.....we did get free dessert, two little pieces of baklava, but they WERE good. This place was less than have full when we arrived and left, we arrived at 8 and left at 9:30, this wasn't because of US. We spent way too much time waiting on the service. Maybe we just got them on a bad night but now I have some serous doubts that their 5 star reviews are legit. So so food, so so ambience, TERRIBLE service. That would be an aweful lot of coincidences.
(1)
Papa O.

Simply the BEST Mediterranean food in town. If you do not live in the area it is well worth the drive. Very reasonable prices and the Friday and Sunday buffet is truly a bargain... the best way to sample the entire menu. Yosef the owner is always there to welcome you and makes you feel at home. The staff is friendly and attentive. On our top five favorite places to eat in the entire city!
(5)
Maymie H.

Loved this place when it first opened. The food was awesome & the fool dish was to die for. We always try to take visiting friends when possible. Last two times we've been there, the skewered veg were burned and the homemade bread was ice cold. Not sure what's going on, but sadly, we may not be going back...
(2)
cabie b.

Again....with the 5 star!!
(5)
Shai G.

I was very impressed by the quality of food and environment of this place. I find the food to be authentic to its core and very delicious. Stopped by with a friend after reading some great reviews and was astonished. Bringing myself back here next week for another bite!
(5)
Steve D.

I've been to the Haritna two times now. On Thursday nights they have a wonderful jazz jam where musicians can sit in once the host band completes their opening set. Very nice and I hope they continue with this. The first time I was there, not being familiar with Mediterranean food, I just ordered the Gyros sandwich which came with a small salad. The salad had a unique dressing which I quite liked. The Gyros meat, however, tasted spongy to me without the great taste of most the gyros I have tried in the past. I had ordered a glass of water and lemon to go with it but the gyros and water was delivered sans lemon. I never saw the waitress again until an hour went by and she delivered the check. I and a gentleman nearby tried to pay our bills but another hour went by before she came back to take our money. We were enjoying the music so it was no big deal but if I had to be somewhere quick it would have been a different story. The second time I went, also on a Thursday, I really wasn't hungry so just ordered an ice tea with lemon. Same waitress. Delivered without the lemon or sugar to sweeten it with or a spoon to stir it. Had to take those off another table but she did bring me the lemon when I requested it again. Got the bill and then had to go searching for someone in the kitchen, who was texting or playing a video game on her iPhone, to come and accept my money. The actual waitress was nowhere to be seen. The staff is very friendly as they greet you when you come in and I am sure my palate will adjust with more visits as I enjoy the music. However, the actual service needs a lot to be desired.
(3)
Mary Ann S.

This was my first time at Haritna Restaurant and I gotta say I'm a fan! The Baba Ganough is to die for! As I was eating it, I already made a mental note to come back just to eat the baba ganough! Along with our appetizers, we had the Chicken Kebab & Kifta Kebab. Both meals were crazy delicious. The meats were tender and juicy. The prices were outstanding not to mention that the serving is HUGE. A great little restaurant in La Mesa. =)
(4)
Fred D.

A strange one. Cold buffet, indifferent service. Try again. The "refreshed" buffet was OK with some good flavors - hummus, eggplant,etc.. Get here early for better quality food from buffet. Oh, or just forget the buffet and try other stuff although they will still take it from buffet. Get it? San Diego has better Med. places.
(3)
Renee K.

Wonderful, tasty Mediterranean food. The bread they serve with each meal is out of this world! Service is prompt and friendly. Would definitely go back again.
(5)
Luzy R.

I liked this place a lot. The food is great and you get a lot for your money. They make the best homemade bread ever. It so fresh and tasty. The boyfriend and I tried the Beef Shwarma and half baked chicken. We also ordered the hummus and meat pie for appetizers. We payed for only $28 bucks for all that food. We both had plenty of leftovers and we will go back again.
(4)
G K.

Great food, friendly service, great value.
(4)
Thanh C.

We were in the area and I wanted a non-chain eatery. Husband threw out the usual...Costco, Chipotle, etc. I turned to Yelp to help make our decision. We found this little charmer and ordered the hummus to start. The husband had the beef schawerma and I wanted a salad. The waitress recommended the Greek salad, but being prego, I couldn't have the feta cheese. She then recommended the Fattoush salad. OMG!! It was a hot day in La Mesa and it was exactly what I needed. For $4.50, it was a heaping heavenly salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, crunchy pita chips and a wonderful lemony flavor. My husband's beef was a little dry - but his plate was so huge! Neither of us finished our plates. The hummus was excellent as well. She even gave me some extra pita chips. We'll be back to this gem! And now Fattoush is my new obsession. Thanks Haritna!
(4)
Raj S.

Good middle eastern food here for very affordable prices. The portions are very large btw and they usually offer free bread with each order. Oh and before you leave...order the arabic coffee, it's excellent here.
(3)
Porterfield C.

Great Lunch! A surprise to find such a wonderful place in such an unassuming place. Josef helped us choose the hummas and bread to start with. We also added the felafel and yogurt. All of this was fresh and tasted great. The bread was just out of the oven and a real treat to enjoy. The kabobs were super and we ended up taking home lots of the great food.
(4)
NIna P.

This place is incredible. Best middle eastern food and so affordable. We were a big group, some of us vegans, and they had such a big selection of things to choose from. The food is fresh and our waitress was wonderful! I have tried falafel in many different restaurants but these are authentic and delicious, just like everything else we tried. If you want a true taste of middle eastern food this is the place to come to!
(5)
YZZER R.

We went there for a large group birthday party. The staff was great in accommodating all of us even though people kept pouring in. We had some of the items in the menu Baba Ganough, Tabouleh, Hummus and Kifta and chicken kabab; all of them were great. the portion sizes were good and we even had some leftovers. They have a haritna pale ale beer that is rather sweet for my palate. I had to drink water every time I took a sip of the beer.
(5)
Leah D.

I live close to SDSU and I chose this restaurant from a list at restaurant.com based on its location close to our house. My husband and I are fans of ethnic food (Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.) and it had been a while since I had eaten Middle Eastern fare. Let's start with the only negative: The location. It's not in a bad neighborhood, just a blah one that is pretty out of the way. The 7300 block of El Cajon Blvd. isn't the hottest spot in San Diego. Or even a lukewarm one. However, if you go you will quickly decide that making the trip was well worth it. We went on a Sunday night and it was really quiet. A couple of groups of Arabic-speaking youths were enjoying hookahs on the very pleasant (and heated - big bonus!) outside patio. The decor is simple, spare - the restaurant (including restrooms) very clean. Eric was our server; he was a really nice guy. He gave us great service. Before I detail the meal I do want to mention that after our dinner we sat out on the patio and while my husband enjoyed a hookah with some "double apple" Yusef (who I assume to be the owner) came by our table and asked how we were. We ended up having a ten-minute conversation with him about current events in the Middle East and the restaurant business, among other topics. Really cool guy. But back to the food - awesome. My husband is a Navy man who has done some pretty extensive travel in the Middle East and the very first word out of his mouth after taking that first mouthful of fresh-baked flatbread and baba ganoush was "Legit!" Having not done much traveling in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, U.A.E., or anywhere else in the region, I'll take his word for it. What I can say is that the five appetizers for $14 (falafel, baba ganoush, tabouleh, fool, and ghalayt bandora) and the two plates of basmati rice with kebab (lamb and beef, respectively) along with mint tea, the aforementioned bread and a dessert of knafeh and baklava...waaay too much food. Styrofoam boxes in my fridge as I type. Side note - I'd love to see them use more environmentally-friendly take out containers. Paper? Foil? Everything we ate was good. Everything. I mean really, really good. I ate far more than I should have because it was just so stinkin' good. My husband and I have three little kids so we really treasure our time alone together; we try to make sure that we spend our time and our money somewhere that will make the most of what we have. Haritna was a shot in the dark and boy, did they deliver. We will most definitely go back and I heartily recommend Haritna to anyone who likes a mellow place with a great vibe and most importantly, DELICIOUS food at an incredible price.
(5)
Spotlight M.

Lil local spot. Food was ok, Hummus was seasoned well. Bread seemed 2 days old.... Chicken Kabob dish was plentiful and relatively juicy. Almond Baklava was light and delectable. Prices were reasonable. Overall a nice "unexpected" dining experience. I will return (even with a "fly" issue on the outside patio).
(3)
Sana I.

The service was wonderful, the food, hookah & tea were very good. You can't beat the price & I think my favorite is the amazing bread they make themselves. I'm definitely a regular here.
(5)
Ilene Z.

Wow!! We were blown away by this diamond in the rough on El Cajon Blvd. Talk about authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, this is it! The sampler appetizer is a must! You cannot believe the amount of delicious food you get for this choose 5 deal for $14. Many vegetarian options. We had hummus which was fresh and appealing. The baba ganoush was to die for in my opinion. It was super creamy and smoky tasting from the roasted eggplant. I ate it with a spoon! But you do get hot house-made fresh bread to dip into all these fabulous dishes. We also ordered taboule, the traditional parsley salad was tangy and fresh. The falafel was hot, cooked to order and tender in the middle while crisp on the outside. We also got stuffed grape leaves which were really good, full of flavorful rice in a tangy dressing. All 5 of these dishes was only $14!! Very recession friendly dining. The portions were generous. We also ordered the kabob entree. The kind proprietor made a combo plate for us with 1 chicken and 1 ground beef kabob though not on the menu. The chicken was flavorful and moist. The entree was served with nicely spiced rice, tomato/cuke salad, grilled onion and grilled tomato. Very flavorful, fresh tasting and generous portions. The iced tea was also very good. It is great to find such quality food in the neighborhood. You have got to try this place out. Let's help Haritna stay in the 'hood for a long time.
(5)
John G.

Relatively new to the neighborhood in a location that seems to change hands every few years. Think we've finally got a winner. Great appetizers at a price that is almost unbelievable. Decent size plates of Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Taboule, Falafel, Fatoush - all for $14! Nice atmosphere, plenty of space for groups, and attentive servers. Appetizers seem to be their speciality as entree choices are limited, but it all looked and smelled great. Four of us had more than we could eat, including desert and lunch for another day, for less than $40, including tax. How can you go wrong? They also have beer and wine, and an outdoor Hookah patio.
(5)
Bubba N.

i've dined here about 20 times. great portion sizes. tried almost everything & my favorites are fool(super-savoury beans in broth) & kanafeh(best $2.50 i could spend). kanafeh is delicious melted cheese topped with finely spun dough & dripped with sweet syrup, easily recognized by the bright orange dough topping , served hot. the fresh hot bread is nice. love the salmon kabobs , sausage appetizer & cheese pie appetizer. i tell every vegitarian i meet to dine here; i could be vegitarian no prob if i had this wonderful menu magically available for every meal. i get frustrated at a few narrow-minded friends who think this food would be too funky ; i remember 20yrs ago when the same type of friends would 'never eat sushi'. from my many visits, all demographics are warmly welcome to dine on this delicious, exotic, healthy, good-priced cuisine . lots of weekly live entertainment . $2.50 shawerma taco tuesdays
(5)
Liz M.

Haritna is a no-fuss neighborhood restaurant with very good food and excellent service. There is a huge fare of vegetarian appetizers as well as food for meat-eaters. The patio is nice -- not fancy, but dog-friendly, which is great. The hummous is wonderful and the "fool" (fava and garbanzo bean stew with lots of spcies and olive oil) is terrific! They make their own bread which is served fresh and hot.
(4)
Joe D.

excellent value, very reasonably priced with generous portions of delicious food. The single most light, crispy baklava I've ever eaten (been disappointed by soggy, overly-sweet baklava in the past)! We ordered hummus and baba ghanoush appetizers, with an entree of chicken and beef skewers on rice. All of it was fresh and so good we took home left overs. Yusef, the manager was welcoming and came to our table, he is a very gracious host. The staff was gracious and provided excellent service. We highly recommend Haritna to friends and family.
(5)
konrad c.

I went here with my girlfriend for dinner. We found Haritna from a discount website offering certificates. We also hopped on Yelp right before we went just to see what the buzz (if any) was about this place. Well I have to agree with everyone else, our jaw's almost dropped when they started bringing out our appetizers, the portion size almost made us feel bad for using the coupon! Everything from the Arabic Coffee, to the sweet desserts and everything else in the middle was absolutely DELICIOUS. We had 5 appetizers and we split the Kifta Kebab for dinner. The portions are very large for the appetizers and by the time dinner came around we were almost already full! (And we can put down a fair amount of food) Needless to say we 'sacrificed' ourselves, and devoured the delicious Kebab, we had enough leftovers for the next day. The service was phenomenal and I loved the very friendly atmosphere of the place. While we were eating dinner we discussed who we will invite to eat her with us next time! I will be sure to recommend Haritna to all of my friends. They made two very happy (and full) customers. We wanna come back soon.
(5)
Sandy W.

Good food. Good service. Good house beer. Yum!
(5)
Nadia K.

My husband and I love this place. We go at least once a month- usually on a Saturday night. The food is the most authentic in town by far. You can tell that the falafel are made from scratch- definitely not out of a box. Their house special chicken is amazingly spiced- I would definitely recommend it. We love to sit in the patio area, especially this time of year, and smoke a hookah.
(5)
Janet H.

If you want some real homemade arabic food, this is the place. The bread is hot out of the oven and extremely tasty. The appetizers are excellent, especially the kubbeh and falafel. The yogurt cucumber salad is also very good and the main dishes are delicious. The place isn't too crowded, but don't let that scare you away. It is really good.
(5)
Rafeef S.

This place is fabulous! Great service, generous portions, and delicious Arabic food! We have also utilized their catering services and they do not disappoint. Our friends raved about the food, too.
(5)
Andrew W.

This place is really good. Probably one of the best in San Diego. The place is really clean and the staff is really nice. Oh yea they also serve hookah :)
(5)
Patty L.

Seriously, by far, such a wonderful experience, yes, the wait might be longer than usual but so worth it! I have been here 4x already & the food is consistant, delicious! The gyros, cicken bbq & hummus the best! Tk u, good job owner.
(5)
Sam H.

Can't recall the number of Middle Easter restaurants I've been to with high hopes but the meal ended in disappointment. I took my kids to Haritna a couple weekends ago after it was recommended by my brother. We were greeted very warmly and the place was quite clean. We're pretty serious eaters so we were going to order the large appetizer dishes but our waitress suggested we try the small portions since they were, by any measure, huge. We had hummus, baba ghanough, lebneh, tabouleh, falafel, lamb kidneys, a cheese plate, and a kabab plate. We thought we'd get through all that with no problem. No way! First, it's the best Middle Easter food we've ever had in a restaurant. My picky kids had no problem diving into each dish (except the lamb kidneys, all the better for me!), and even though we made a helluva an effort, we took home as much food as we consumed there at the table. We feasted on the rest the next morning. Finally, the knafe! This is one of the Arabic desserts that is just hard to get right. It was perfect! I'm sorry to say that we were so full we couldn't finish it but it'll definitely bring us back. Oh, the real highlight for me was the Arabic coffee. I haven't had a cup that good since...I can't remember. Needless to say, I had our waitress bring a second pot. I was wired for the next several days... All in all, we had a brilliant experience. Our lovely waitress was always there but never overbearing, the food was unbelievable, and the prices -- did I mention the prices -- were more than reasonable. My eldest son so loved the food that he took a couple friends from his school there a few days later. We'll all definitely be back. Good to know we finally have a real Middle Easter restaurant in town.
(5)
Bret C.

Great Food!!!! It was fantastic. Hummus and Falafel were my favorite. The Pita bread/bread is made fresh daily by Chef and is over the top. Great meal... you gotta try it out.
(5)
Jc S.

the food is great and indeed a good value, though it is variable. the fool was to die for one day and just ok the next. the fries are awful (think bad, frozen) but they try to pitch them as yummy. the service is good, albeit a bit on the chatty side. my biggest complaint is that the women's bathroom is DISGUSTING. there was all sorts of nastiness on the floor...it was obvious it hadn't been disinfected in a very, very long time (if ever). Had I not gone in there, this would've been a 4 or 5 star review, but I'm scarred.
(2)
Gaile C.

Fantastic, flavorful food. So happy to have such a great restaurant within walking distance from my home. We could have done without the Hookah smoke wafting in but the food and service more than made up for having to deal with that. Plan on having a multitude of leftovers if you order what you normally would eat. Our left over boxes seemed to number the same as all the other guests leaving the restaurant.
(5)
S F.

Terrible customer service!!!!! Tha'ts for sure! So don't be surprise! expect that! The food on the other hand is magnificent! Very nice food I mean the buffet was delicious in all meanings! except the bread didn't like it at all! The tea with mint is amazing! Just the customer service is the problem! the interior is not that pretty its clean but they need to work more on thier lights and decoration maybe! seating is fine! Just work on the customer service and may be I'll come back!
(3)
Andy S.

Outstanding! Food is great, service is great, still able to get a table on a Saturday night. Four people ate like pigs for $60. Entrees are huge, appetizers are huge. The owner came over to check in and ask if there was anything he could do for us. It doesn't get any better than Haritna for authentic middle eastern cuisine at a fantastic price.
(5)
Linda R.

This place is incredible!!!...when it comes to wonderful food and friendly people this is a hidden gem that must be explored!!!....everything on the menu is delicious, and full of flavor! The most wonderful thing is the portions they give you!!....appetizers come in small size and large, the smalls are 3.00 and your jaw will drop when you see just how much they give you!!!.... They have an appetizer sampler where for $14.00 you pick 5 appetizers, and it is enough food for 2 people with hearty appetites and we still end up taking food home. Also 2 dollar draft beers!!...Also a great place for vegans and vegetarians with a large selection of vegetarian dishes. The owner is also extremely welcoming. He is a hands on business owner who treats you like you were a guest in his house. They also make their own bread which the bread alone is reason enough to come, People special order just the bread for take out. On I believe Fridays and sunday's they have a buffet which is quite an impressive spread and weekly prepare different dishes not ordinarily available on the menu, they also have hookah if that is your thing..... you'll find yourself craving their dishes and eating here a few times a week...I've brought in a few people and recommended to a few other friends and they are hooked!!....recently I spoke with the owner, the restaurant has been there for about a year and I'd love to see this restaurant stay for years to come. Its just sooooo good
(5)
Bernadette J.

Delicious appetizers, babaganouj and tabuleh! Fresh baked bread..wonderful. Large meal portions. Good value and amazing dessert!
(4)
Lori G.

Have to say that growing up eating and making Mediterranean food, I was toally impressed with the food. The Hummus was about the best I have had. The eggplant and zucchini appetizer was fantastic. Happy hour - 5 aps for $10 you cannot beat. Service was great. The food is so reasonably priced and good - I definitely will be back.
(5)
J B.

EXCELLENT food!!! Everything was delicious. We ordered Hummus, Baba Ganough, Cucumber and Yogart salad, Arabic salad, Zaatar, and Spinach pie. Very authentic, just the way i like it!!! The owner, Yousef took our order and served our food. He treats you like family. Nice atmosphere with modern decor. The service was AWESOME of course!! The desserts we had, knafeh and baklawa, were very good as well. Oh yeah, the homemade bread, just like my grandma's!
(5)
Maureen J.

Our family just happened to be driving around aimlessly when we passed this place. We live in Point Loma so I can't really tell you why we were in this neighborhood but now it seems as thought it was fate. What a fantastic find! This is definitely the best Middle Eastern food in San Diego. The food is really better than all other Middle Eastern restaurants in town, the serving sizes are generous, and the price for the quality and amount of food you get is surprising! The service was also very good and we appreciated the owner coming by to say hello. Loved it! We will definitely go back!
(5)
Warren C.

The food was for the most part - very good. The hummus and baba ganoush were some of the best I've had. The customer service was horrible. The rather large proprietor sat at a nearby table with guests while we stood waiting for a table with no one else in the restaurant. There was only one young woman providing service and while she was polite, she was clueless. I had to step into the kitchen to request beverage refills. The final straw was paying the tab. My family finally went to the car after seeing us continue to be ignored by the proprietor and I had to step out to the patio to find the woman listening to some men tell a story while smoking a hookah. She raised her hand to me and said "give me a minute" which I did. I was left wondering if perhaps the proprietors only desire Arab clientel. Tapestries on the wall reflected the map of Palestine. I've had little exposure to Palestinians but have always been sympathetic to their plight. For the two Palestinians that I observed last Friday evening - that sympathy completely evaporated.
(2)
Nancy J.

Just had lunch there with our Groupon coupon. The food is great. We had chicken, a falafel sandwich, homemade bread, hummus and baklava. We will definitely return probably for Friday buffet.
(5)
E. U.

Just went here for lunch with my Groupon coupon, which I purchased after reading all the rave reviews. Oh well. First the positives - the waitress was really friendly and helpful. The baba ganoush was excellent, the foul was good, and the chicken breast kebab was nicely grilled and spiced, but underneath, the chicken itself was flavorless and drier than necessary given the marinade. Prices were extremely reasonable. The hummus, which is one of the things I was looking forward to, was gag-level salty, and I had to send it back. The owner told me "that is how we make it" (taking no hints), but the waitress said one day it will be very salty, the next very lemony - in short, it varies a lot. The thing that really did not sit well with me was that I discussed the salad with the waitress but did not order it. I got a salad with my kebab, told her I'd not ordered it, she took it to the kitchen and scraped it off, and the owner told the waitress to charge me for it. I far prefer the food at Sajj in Hillcrest, though (see my review) portions and price are now disappointing. A very mixed bag, and if I go again, I will definitely a) ask for a sample of the hummus before I order, and b) have the waitress repeat my order back to me. Good luck!
(2)
Lala A.

We decided to try this place out for dinner tonight and were not disappointed. It was myself, the Mr, the kid, sis & niece. We ordered WAY too much food not knowing how huge the portions are. Seriously, we took four to go containers of left overs home after stuffing ourselves silly. And trust me, the rating isn't just because they give you a ton of food. It's because they give you a ton of really good food and with a smile. Our hostess/server Monica was as sweet, friendly and helpful as she is beautiful. We decided on the family feast for 3 or more since there were five of us. It comes with baskets of their wonderful housemade bread and each person chooses a "small" appetizer and gets an entree plate which included the kifta and chicken kebab atop a generous amount of basmati rice topped with a charred tomato and some onion. For the appetizers we chose the cucumbers & yogurt, mafgousa, fool, falafel, and ghalayt bandora. Because we were under the impression it was going to be a "small" portion of each we ordered some hummus and fattoush as well. Oh boy we were shocked when all the food began arriving. The small portions are quite large and the large is just downright huge. All things tried were delicious, as were the desserts we tried. The pistachio baklava was divinely sweet and especially good with the house tea with mint. We will definitely be returning.
(4)
Salome G.

The appetizer combo is so good for lunch. I went with three other people, and it was there was the perfect amount of food for everyone!
(5)
Mary M.

We were visiting the San Diego area from Sacramento and heard about this restaurant. What a find!! It is the BEST mediterranean food that I have tasted to date!! The owner was so friendly, as well as the rest of the staff. We had a variety of the appetizers, the fresh bread and hummus were amazing. They had a buffet going on that evening, and I tried a little of everything, and didn't find one that that I didn't like. I would highly recommend this place to anyone living in the San Diego area, or visiting. Well worth the drive!! And the next time we come down... this is definately on our must stops!
(5)
Sue S.

This is a new Middle-Eastern restaurant that absolutely needs to be checked out. It has wonderful appetizers. If you like liver - you must try theirs - out of the world! Their bread is homemade and different than anywhere else - delicious. Outdoor dining and hookahs. They cater to their customers' every need. Hope they do well as they deserve it. Also try the kibbeh - so yummy...Finally - don't leave without trying their signature dessert - knaffeh - it is sinful!
(5)
Alan S.

Oh Man where to start...By far the best quality Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine a total hole in the wall! Their Chicken kabobs and falafel wraps are some of the best I've had. Owners always make you feel like a family member. good portion food guaranteed that you will have a delightful meal. Great Food. There Tawouk and Falafel !EXCELLENT!!!. Hummus to die for it.
(5)
Ed W.

we used to be frequent customers when this restaurant first opened. we came back tonight and found the service had deteriorated. it was about 7pm when we entered and we stood inside and could not find an employee. though the restaurant was not crowded, we waited about ten minutes before i went pass their curtain into their kitchen area to find the two waitresses apparently looking for something in the back. when one of them saw me, she came over and i told her we needed a table for 3. she asked if we had reservations, and that seemed to be an odd question as the restaurant only had about 4 people eating inside. after hearing a no, she sat us in the middle in front of their double doors leading out to the patio. we were given our menus and that was the last we saw of her as she proceeded to help about 4 other people who had arrived. one of their customers that was eating outside in their patio area, came into the restaurant and left the double doors open, so now we were also sitting in front of a draft. after another 5 mins or so of waiting around, we decided we had enough and left. too bad as i'm sure their restaurant still serves delicious food. with the number of middle eastern food places that are available in the sd area, the chances are it will be a long time before we come back here, if ever.
(1)

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Address : 7303 El Cajon Blvd
La Mesa, CA, 91942
Phone (619) 462-2722
Website https://haritnarestaurant.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant

7303 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA, 91942

Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Salads

Entrees

Sandwiches

Vegetarian

Meat

Baked

Kids Menu

Sweet

Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant

Appetizers

Salads

Entrees

Sandwiches

Vegetarian

Meat

Baked

Kids Menu

Sweet

Drinks

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