Bandar Restaurant Reviews

We thought let us try Persian food we tried the chicken sheesh kebab and a lamb dish we also tried lentils soup the quantity is too much if you have three people order only two dishes overall the food was okay maybe we didn't like

We made a reservation in advance with open table which works great. The food was delicious and the portions were HUGE!. Everything was so good I can't say enough great things. Prices were a bit high but well worth it as you will have a ton of leftovers.

So I convinced my company to try Bandar since it was Persian food. I am not Persian but I love the food. So with that being said we turned around and sat outside on the patio. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was ready to try some delightful food. It was Restaurant Week and I started with the hummus which was amazing of course! Then I ordered the World Famous Chicken... So when my plate came out it was seriously enough for 4 people... It was the best tender chicken ever and the huge portion of rice was excellent. This is a must try if visiting San Diego. The owner was very nice as well. Oh yeah get the baklava.. It tasted better than the baklava I had in Turkey...

Went for a late lunch; the Bandar salad (what we typically call a "Greek" salad), which was sizable and deliciously refreshing on a hot day, came with the meal. I ordered the Adas Polo, which arrived with enough marinated grilled chicken tenderloin on Basmati with lentils and dates to serve 4. So I took most of it back to my hotel room, put it in the mini-fridge, and split the leftovers with my husband that night for dinner. It was even delicious cold, but fresh and hot, it was amazing! If your hotel room has a mini-fridge, take-out from here would be an easy work-around from the outrageous prices in San Diego travel, and healthy too!

When we travel to US, we usually find a nice Persian restaurant nearby. This time, we traveled to the Gaslamp district to have our fill. I was not overly impressed with the decor and the cold feeling of the room. Specially that Persian restaurants usually draw you in with cultural and Persian art-affects. The food was admittedly good on my plate, however, my g/f complained about the dry chunks of chicken kabob. The customer service did not make us feel any more welcome either. My overall rating would be a 3 1/2.

If you looking for and want to experience, probably, the best Persian food on the West Coast, you do not need to fly to Tehran. Located in downtown San Diego on Fourth Avenue, Bandar Persian Prime Restaurant is open seven days a week from 11:30am. Awarded Best Persian Restaurant since 1996, this restaurant features a menu which offers generous portions of chicken kebabs and other classic Persian specialties. All the meats are charbroiled with all natural and gluten-free ingredients. Any menu item that you might choose will be superb! With our server Eric, we chose two dinners: Baghala Polo which is Baby Lamb Shank served in Fresh Tomato Based Sauce and Spices, Dill and Lima Bean Rice and Zereshk Polo-Charbroiled Saffron-Marinated Chicken Tenderloins served with Rice and Sweet and Tart Red Berries. Just writing about our dinners has our taste buds screaming, "Let's go, again!" When you do try Bandar, like us, you will begin planning your next dinner there.

Amazing food, fast friendly service. Will definitely revisit when in San Diego. Cooked to perfection & more than I could ever hope to eat.

Service is awful. The waiter/owner didn't allow a toddler to eat food (pizza) from outside the restaurant. No one should be treated this way. Just terrible, don't bring your family here.

As soon as we walked into Bandar we were treated warmly as though we were family. The drinks were to us within minutes of ordering and the food was so delicious and such large portions we ate the chicken and rice again the next day for lunch and it was still so tasty. Loved the place and will go back again soon!

Restaurant furnishings excellent, well appointed, more towards formal interior, and unique so visually interesting. Staff warm and helpful. Lamb chop was tender, moist and flavorful. Loved it. Served with rice and grilled tomato. Needed some vegetable, side or appetizer. Otherwise, great! The mango cheesecake was light, fluffier side, and the mild tartness of the mango made for an excellent dessert. Would assuredly be interested in return visit.

The bread they serve is not up to par with Persian standards. The entree’s were good. The salad was flavourless. We love Persian cuisine and have tried a lot of different restaurants. This one was ok. The main reason for the low rating is because the service is terrible. When we first arrived we were standing at the front with staff walking by looking at us and no one letting anyone know to see if we needed a table? Than when seated our waiter took forever to take our drink order and finally bring them. They were not busy and they act busy and almost too good for you or like you are bothering them. I’m not a picky person and rarely right a bad review but this was poor and rude service. Will never be back.

The food was great the shish kebab, lamb chops, the chicken ... every thing was excellent, the portions were more than enough. However the service was too slow (almost 50 minutes!!!) And The hostess was too rude.

Came here as a group of eight, including several vegetarians. Had stopped in the day before so we could make the arrangements. Tiba was very gracious and helpful in providing us with a real taste treat. Started with the large vegetarian combo appetizer that provided a great sampling of (cucumber dip, hummus, feta and olives, And eggplant - all beautifully flavored. Also shared avocado-hummus and a plate of steaming hot dolmeh. Then we embarked on an expansive tour of the menu, sharing a great variety of rices with black cherry, barberry, and saffron; veggies including a delicious eggplant stew, and pomegranate stew over tadig (special crispy rice); barg (beautifully marinated filet mignon), lamb kabob, tasty chicken (my favorite dish, after the eggplant stew), and king salmon. Washed it all down with bottles of a "Persian style" Shiraz (from Paso Robles!). Finished with good coffee. Highly recommend this restaurant!

The meals were huge and well prepared. The beef fillet was perfectly done to my liking. The roasted veggies were nice and complemented the main beef dish. The potions were huge. Would definitely come back.

Make a reservation on the restaurant which is located at the city center, during the big convention season, even as a group is usually same as making a reservation for disappointment. But last night was a disaster or catastrophe rather than 'disappointment'. Critic did you say? It is not a result of 'critic', because there was no such a thing can be a target of critic. Concept of the food must be 'Mojave desert'. Everything was overcooked except lamb shank and soup which do not need exact cooking time. They tortured chicken and beef for about an hour, and then they tortured us using those fully exhausted meats. Some were too sweet, and some others were too salty, and many of them were just tasteless - I can understand to use enough sugar. Especially if it is a middle east cuisine. But how can I understand these imbalance or total chaos within a dish? Of course I don't want to mention again about chicken and beef without ANY juice left. However, I still believe the final goal what they wanted was not such a thing. I still can read a bud of hope from the combination of spices they used. Yes, there was some concept and thinking. Just one problem. Absolute skill-less or non-motivated. They may dreamed, but dream was just a dream. They may can make a nice single dish. But if they got a order of 10 dishes at a time, they must fail. Yes, we call it amateur. But amateurs do not sell their food in THAT price. Service? During an hour of waiting, they didn't tell us something. And the bill contains 18% gratitude! Moreover, there was a line for ADDITIONAL GRATITUDE! Payed for a disatorous dish, and gave 18% tip for total ignorance. How wonderful it was! Summary: If you are a solo guest within this restaurant, you may can get a good food. But if you see many other guests also in there, please RUN!

Yelp Review: ⭐️ (1 Star) If I could give zero stars, I would. My name is Ramon Meraz, and after my Christmas Day experience at Bandar, I’m left questioning how this place is even in business. I came to San Diego with high hopes, only to be met with an epic fail in customer service that has left a sour taste in my mouth. It all started with a simple order of Koobideh through Uber Eats. After a long day of travel and business, I was looking forward to a decent meal. Instead, I received a bowl of pasta from who-knows-where. Not a great start, but I called the restaurant to see if I could still get my food. The owner, Shokoon informed me that my Koobideh was ready, but no one picked it up. And then she suggested that I went and picked it up. So, I begrudgingly walked a mile to the restaurant to retrieve it. Upon my arrival, I was told that the delivery driver had already taken my order after I left my hotel. ( why wasn’t he told I was instructed to pick it up myself since the first delivery was botched) And guess what? I was informed that if I wanted to reorder, I would have to pay again. Just like that. No accountability, no responsibility taken—just a cold dismissal of my situation. I ended up with nothing after paying for the food, delivery, and tip. The driver was looking for me at my hotel, but because no one bothered to communicate, he left with my food. What’s even more appalling is the utter lack of empathy from the Owners. Mistakes happen, but a simple acknowledgment of the issue could have gone a long way. A phone call to the driver? A complimentary cookie? Anything to show they cared? Instead, I was treated like I was at fault, and the two women at the front desk seemed completely uninterested in resolving my problem. I didn’t even get to try the food, but based on the service, I can only assume it’s not worth the hassle. If Bandar values its customers, it should at least offer some form of compensation when they mess up. Asking me to pick up my meal and then giving it to the driver was a complete lack of organization. As someone who spent over 30 years as a hotel concierge, I’ve seen my fair share of poor service, but this takes the cake. I’m heartbroken to witness such a degradation of hospitality, especially in a place that should be welcoming visitors like me to San Diego. I hope this was a one-off moment for Bandar, but I can’t recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a pleasant dining experience. Save your time and money—there are plenty of other places that actually value their customers.

It was very bad reasturant in my opinion, also the worst reasturant in my life. For many reasons. First: the taste of food were very bad no flavor at all. Second: the food were cold not hot. Third: some type of food were not fresh like Hummus. Fourth: the coca cola was a water not a coca cola. About the service... First: the waiter were terrible, they took long time to come to you and to bring the food. when we asked to warm up the bread.. he made a horrible look. Second: the manager was unfriendly. When we asked the Manger to complain about the food and the service, the waiter took the dishes and clean the table, then the Manager came and we complained to her, and she said in a negative way, why you didn't complain before the waiter clean so I can see the dishes and the quality of the food we told her we complain before the took the dishes, but she didn't believe us and she blamed us, it is my first time in my live the manager blame the customers eventhough the customers were in wrong. Don't eat in this reasturant at all if you want to be happy and to have a great time.

My wife and I stopped at Bandar to try something different. The atmosphere is fine dinning, but casual. The service is very good, the food was excellent. We split the Bandar Salad, and the combination plate that included their "world famous" boneless chicken. The marinade used in the chicken was exceptional. The chicken was very moist. The meat was a combination of ground filet seasoned with a mild but flavorful combination of spices. The portions were very generous and the split was just right for the two of us.

Great restaurant in downtown San Diego!! Definitely worth the trip and there's plenty of parking available across the street at Horton Plaza. Tiva, and the owner, warmly greeted us and sat us at our table. Our drinks and appetizer order was taken and returned quickly. The Barg and Koobideh entree plate was phenomenal. Both meat selections were cooked and seasoned perfectly! The portion size for the price is well worth the cost. The entire staff was welcoming and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting downtown San Diego.

I'm a big fan of Persian food, having lived in the Middle East before. This was good, not great. If the Naan was the best part of a meal, we got issues. Avocado hummus - tasted flat. Lentil soup was filling but bland. The Koobideh was tasty and paired well enough with the hummus.

My husband & I stopped by here on a Thursday evening for some delicious Middle Eastern/Persian food. We were given a friendly greeting as we entered & were seated right away. The waitress took our order right away because we mentioned we had to head to the airport for a flight back home. Food came out super quickly, was delicious, & was a massive portion. I wish we were staying another night because I would've definitely brown-bagged it. The venue was large & lovely split into 2 large rooms both with high ceilings and nicely decorated. They have framed certificates of excellence & reviews/ratings on their walls and they are all well-deserved! I'd highly recommend dining here.

Truth be told, one of the people in our group was a regular here and so I really don't know to what extent that may have made a difference but: we all received extremely generous portions (NONE of us in our party of seven were able to finish our meals) and everything was tasty! The meals - some had chicken, some had lamb - were tasty and the staff was very friendly. Overall, we had a very pleasant culinary experience.

Ordered the grilled chicken with rice and was surprised at the huge portion. It's enough to feed two people at least. The rice mixed with dates was delicious however I found the chicken a bit dry. Asked fo hot sauce and it tasted better once I apply the sauce. Decor was lovely and service good. Food was forgettable.

I had ghormet szabi, it was a gigantic plate and really good with a big piece of lamb. My boyfriend had Koobedeh, very very good as well

Came here for lunch while attending a convention. Easy walk from the convention center (~10 min). Had chicken with cherry rice - yum - could not finish it all. Tea was not really persian tea, but oh well.

We have been to Bandar a number of times. I would typically consider this restaurant excellent, but I have had drier chicken once , and this last time they ran out of a certain cut of steak. That said, the atmosphere is very nice, the food is really excellent (even the one time dry chicken is better than just about anywhere at any price as they must marinate it), and the service very good. Dessert was only average (Napolian that was thawed but not as fresh as I expected based on the rest of the meal) The other item to note is the servings, particularly the chicken breast dish is very large-easily two person meal as far as the meat goes. The salad is also very large, easily serving three. So if the prices seem a bit higher than other Persian restaurants, take this into consideration. There is real value and quality here.

Wasn't sure about "persian" food. Went with a few friends and had an amazing meal. Had a chicken and beef over rice dish which was enough for three meals. Ate outside under the heater. Attentive service and would go back

This place had great kababs! The service was a bit slower than expected for this kind of restaurant.

I am a big fan of Iranian food, I even drive for hours to reach a good Persian place, however, this is a restaurant I wont go out of my way to go to. It is a very average restaurant, not very authentic iranian, the food was not bad (tahdeeg with ghaima was good), the bread they got with the food was not good at all.

There are a lot of Persian restaurants in California . This restaurant is the best or maybe one of the best in California . High quality kabobs , delicious Persian stews with home made taste , yammy starters , specially crispy rice (Tah dig ) with a few kind of stews platter that is my favorite . High quality service , helpful Staffs , good atmosphere , highly recommend .

We went for lunch around 12+pm and it was quiet and nice. We ordered the hummus platter and 2 chicken + 1 fish mains. The proteins were delicious but the serving portion is MASSIVE! If we had known, we would have ordered 2 mains to share for 3. So unless you are a big eater or planning to take away some in a box, i'd suggest being careful with the ordering :)

Everything we had here was delicious and the portions were generous - 3 of us with healthy appetites could not finish the dinner! When my wife inquired about one of the stews on the menu, the hostess brought a sample to taste before ordering. The facility is tastefully decorated and service was good. We certainly did not experience the negatives expressed in other reviews on this site and agree with the 20+ years of positive reviews and awards that adorn the walls. We would definitely come back!

It was yummy Food was great and the service was great We went during comic con so it was super busy just be prepared for traffic to get there and extreme parking price it was good though It is also gluten free

I came when they opened at 4PM as I had an airplane to catch. I had the restaurant totally to myself for the most of my meal. I was expecting some type of Persian decor or music...NOT so. The decor and music were nice but modern. My waiter spoke no Farsi. I ordered a half serving of koobidah kebab since the whole plate was 24 oz. The side of saffron rice was very hot and good for $6. There are a lot of homeless people walking by the outside tables. Good restaurant, but it did not bring back any memories of visiting Iran fifty years ago!

Service was excellent. The eggplant stew with lamb shank was to die for, just so excellent. I had the Baghar Polo (lamb), but not at the level of the stew. Very nice place, across the street from the Balboa Theatre.

This is an upscale Persian restaurant. We visited the restaurant and felt the hostess was not friendly. The menu is expensive but the quality of food was very good. The portions are large so it's a good idea to share a dish between two people. I'd recommend the kabobs (Sultani) and would not recommend the stews.

We were looking for Indian food and we settled for Persian. Food was delicious, service excellent. Our plate was tasty without being over spiced. Would definitely go back.

I highly recommend this beautiful restaurant to anyone visiting San Diego. Everything was great! Our Waiter Vladimir was very attentive and on top of his game!

I was there 2 years ago, best restaurant in town, the Kebab was the best . I will miss their food every single day. the restaurant was very clean and classy , you need to try it

We had dinner for four here on a quiet Monday night. We found that the entrees were very generous portions and satisfying. My beef and rice dish "Lubia polo" was very good, and a good value too. Two others in our group ordered lamb fesenjun and enjoyed that. The service and atmosphere were also nice. But we didn't love the appetizers - any middle eastern restaurant should have killer hummus and pita, in my opinion, and theirs was merely average - and my friend who originally wanted dessert was disappointed in what was offered and skipped it. You could certainly have a nice meal here, but there are a lot of other choices in the area to consider.

The lamb stew was the best I ever had. The dolmahs were awesome as was everything else we had. Excellent service and a lovely decor. Don't miss this one !

If you want to try Persian food (kabab ) I do recommend trying this restaurant. I uploaded the photos so that you can decide. We did not like the Tahdig-e ghorme sabzi (Tahdig + Ghormesabzi Stew). It was not tasting like the traditional ones. No meat No limoo amani (dried lime) But we tried kabab (barg + koobideh) that were really nice. The (mast moosir) was delicious but it was not tasting like the traditional ones (it was full of big shallot particles which came under the teeth.)

Everything was good-- the service was fine, the food was excellent, the three humus platter was interesting and a good way to start. The mains were all nice, nothing surprising (if you've had Persian food before) but very nicely done. Excellent rice (which you'd expect but don't always get. We were very pleased.

We came here for dinner and enjoyed it. The food is tasty and huge portions. Service is good and everything was as expected. A must try place for Persian cuisine.

Very nice place and the owner was accommodating for a decent group of us. I actually forgot what I ordered :) but that was probably since so much food was presented when I received my dish. The meat was thoroughly cooked to my liking and was just great! The waitress was pleasant as well. Definitely recommend, I will be back!

Went there for dinner with my wife and friend. Very nice setting. Nice staff. Slow service, and food was okay. Not the best (especially that I have a Mediterranean background). Very pricey though!

My husband, daughter, and grand daughter had an early dinner at Bandar this week. It had been years since we ate at this restaurant. It's pricey...but worth it. When I walked in..I was alone-and I was greeted by a polite young man. The waiter showed me my table right away. He quickly provided bread and water. While I waited for the rest of my party ..who joined me about 20 minutes later...I ordered a glass of wine. I would have liked a little more quantity since it was 10 dollars a glass. After this the waiter left to attend to other tables, and so we ordered from a waitress..who did a pretty good job. Anyhow, we ordered 2 entrees the Chicken Soltani which is a combination of chicken and beef ground filet, basmati rice, and a grilled tomato. We shared the 2 entrees between the four of us and still had left overs! We also ordered 2 appetizers -the Eggplant or Kashk-O Bademjan and the chopped cucumber yogurt or Must-O Khiyar. The food was DELICIOUS!!! My husband ordered a beer. The total w/ tip was 115 dollars. The ambiance is low key...nice and quiet..the employees are very polite and attentive. I would definitely go back. The only negative thing I have to mention is that we had to deal with I think were fruit flies..One flew into my glass of wine..another on my plate..luckily I was done with my appetizer so I asked for a clean plate. I noticed more flies on the wall..I had to wave them off..Next time-we will eat al fresco. Hopefully, the restaurant will do something about the annoying flies. Other than that the food was very delicious..Quality ingredients are utilized, efficient employees, and a very nice restaurant to visit. Highly recommend!

This restaurant is very good. I have been to Bandar numerous times. It does not disappoint. Yesterday, I ordered by phone and picked up my food to go. Just an FYI if you are not a local....Parking is very difficult in downtown San Diego, especially on weekends...I looked for parking for about 15 minutes..finally I gave up and parked across the street in a parking lot that charges solely 2 dollars for 15 minutes. When I arrived the order was ready to go..Order was accurate. I ordered the following: the Eggplant or the Kashk-o-Bademjan, the Cucumber Dip, and 2 orders of the Chicken Soltani which is comprised of tenderloin chicken and charbroiled ground beef. The total price was 76.00 dollars. Portions are enormous so my husband and I shared 1 of the orders, the other order was for our daughter. I have to state that I consider myself a "foodie" and very particular about what I eat..how the food is prepared, spices, texture, etc. I hope Bandar will always be available. This restaurant is probably one of the best in San Diego. If you love Persian cuisine..this is one of the best in my opinion. Kheili Moteshakkeram Bandar

We went here on NYE for the first time. Right after coming in, we felt this warm and warm-hearted atmosphere. Obviously there were a lot of recurring customers to celebrate their NYE. A lot of hugging and chatting between guests and staff was going on, which for us was good sign. We had both lamb and it was so tender and delicate! The entrees are spicy but not hot and their meat quality was amazing. One of their kitchen crew, I assume, came to our table to present their dessert variety. Good move! We both had one and it was incredible! The red velvet cake was delicious! Only the Espresso needs to be improved.

I was in town for an annual meeting and this restaurant was in walking distance from my hotel. I was particularly looking for Persian food so chose this one. It was only me and I didn't have a reservation. I was promptly seated and served. I asked for a glass of water and my waiter brought a large bottle of water and just placed it on my table. He didn't bother to pour the water in my glass. The bottle was so big I literally could not lift it and pour the water myself. So I had to wait until a waitress came to get my order to ask her to pour the water for me (one needed to be standing up and use both hands to pour the water). At any Persian restaurant, along with bread, you would be served some fresh greens (AKA Sabzi) and Feta cheese. In this one Lavash (a type of Persian bread) was served with butter (this was a first!). They brought my drink and food at the same time (thought timing was off). I wasn't even half through my food and drink when the waiter came to take them away (my knife and fork were not placed parallel to each other and I was clearly eating and drinking and they had plenty of empty tables). Ten to fifteen minutes later the waiter did the same thing. When I was finished and placed my knife and fork parallel to each other, the waitress brought my check. So I used part of the check to educate them how to use this signal as a sign that their customers are done with their food. In general other than food nothing was Persian in this restaurant (decorations, traditions, waiters and waitresses, etc.). I wouldn't go back.

3 of us had dinner here. Service was attentive. We shared the hummus appetiser which was pretty bland - how 1 person could have ate that on their own i dont know! 2 of us ordered the chicken combination each which included boneless Chicken and a strip of beef Koobideh - the food itself was really good but the portion size was ridiculous - we could of easily just shared one instead of us both ordering it - there was so much left that we couldnt eat and was enough to make another plate! If they reduced the portion size and the price im sure they would do much better and probably not waste so much food.

Went to this Persian restaurant during convention. I have been to Iran and definitely love Iranian food but I must say this was fancy version of Iranian food. I ordered eggplant lamb stew which was nice but I found big piece of lemon pickle in it( that's a very typical indian lemon pickle) which I love and we ( Indian) usually put in few curries to make it tangy but I know Iranians never do that and I stayed there for long and never had tangy food. So that was some thing new for me. Rice were great and good quality. Ambience is fabulous. I was served by guy Rob who was absolutely a gem. His service was exceptionally great. I have given 1 extra star coz of their service and that's for Rob!

We've avoided the Bandar as it's in a busy downtown area at the edge of the pub crawling Gaslamp. However, we were delighted with our first encounter during restaurant week. The tasty well-seasoned dishes were huge enough to share and carry away some that are helpful waiter both boxed and bagged for us. Even though we were seated in the bar area, at lunch without any bar action we enjoyed a quiet conversation in a modern elegant room with 2 huge pots of white orchids (real!). Our only regret was not tasting the baklava, but now we have a good reason to return soon for dessert and Persian tea (yummy).

My husband, daughter, and grand daughter had lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Service (our waiter) was fine, attentive, and efficient. As soon as we sat down, we were served water and lavash bread. We ordered the following: 2 orders of the eggplant appetizer, one order of the cucumber drip, an iced tea, a glass of wine, one beer, a lemon drop martini, and 2 orders of the chicken soltani. The food was very delicious. This is our go to place to eat delicious Persian food. Price without the tip was 124.99. Servings are big...but...The only minor complaint was that I wish we had been served more Basmati rice... The decor is very nice. The restaurant is in the heart of downtown on 4th avenue. Parking is difficult to find..so we parked across the street in Horton Plaza. VERY expensive parking...we went in separate cars..we paid 15 dollars each for 3 cars!!! Anyhow-going back to the restaurant..I would highly recommend Bandar. Worth it!

Great dinner in a fine restaurant. Top! We have had dinner during our trip in San Diego and both food and drink were good..

We come here to enjoy an exotic experience in downtown SD. Being rather fond of Persian flavors, we found the food overall well cooked and servings abundant. The entrees are really tasty and creative, some of the mains were good but could have been better (lacking a bit of flavor). Personnel was nice, and the place had a charming atmosphere. Good quality/price ratio, in particular if the atmosphere and service is factored in. Overall a positive experience.

If you like Persian food and or are new to it, Bandar is the place to go - they have withstood the test of time because their service and quality is always consistently good ...

This was my first time having Persian food. Omg it was amazing. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service was amazing with a great location! I cannot wait to go back! Sorry about the dawn pictures!

Ordered the pomegranate lamb and basically could not finish it as it was so sweet. I think even if this had been a desert it would have been too sweet - but in combination with lamb was deeply odd. Others in our party had the chicken kebab - I do not know how the chef managed to make the meat so dry. I tried a piece and could not finish it. Inedible.

It's been a ritual that anytime I have an out of town visitor take her/him to Bandar for a truly great Persian cuisine, but my last experience was really disappointing.. The food as usual was very good (minus a few long dark hair in the rice plate) and generously portioned. The customer service, and the wait people's attitude was extremely rude and unprofessional. The price not only too high but there are surcharges and unlike most restaurants that provide you with bread butter or olive oil, at this restaurant you'd to ask and pay for them.( water is the only thing "free" but not hot water. Regrettably my most recent trip is going to be my last.

it would be a good idea to starve yourself all day before eating here. Then, go straight into entree and then share one dish. My wife had the Zereshk chicken which was as described, only there were 7 juice rolls of chicken, enough for 3 or 2 very hungry restauranters. I had the lamb shank which was also delicious and hidden under a mountain of rice just for me.

I recently arrived from a 13 hour plane trip and had dinner here on my very first night. I read the reviews and ordered the recommendation (world famous chicken) and it was Delicious!! The Soltani was also a standout! The staff were also super nice and helpful. Definitely worth coming back again and again.

Out with a coworker for dinner and he mentioned previously visiting a Persian restaurant in the area. We walked for a bit and saw Bandar, I was hungry and gave in. SO GLAD I DID. The food was excellent, flavorful, cooked perfect, and served well. I will be back and bringing others.

I Live in NJ, while visiting SD, ate dinner at Bandar on 12/27/15 with a party of 8. Observed that - the server Taji was rushed and inattentive. - the food was fresh, portions were large, but it was bland. no sauce served with the plate. - bill was inflated. This was a wedding anniversary gift/dinner for my niece and her husband, so we went about the dinner in a pleasant manner, paid the bill and noted the extra charge - decided to call my credit card to correct the bloating of the bill to avoid any distaste with my guests around. As an example of the poor service, I share that we ordered humus as an appetizer which is served with bread. Waitress served humus without the bread, when we inquired about the bread - we were told that they are running low on bread and since the bread is complementary, she is choosing not to serve it. I offered to pay for the bread - the waitress agreed to charge for it but never served it until our main course was served and no one ate the appetizer. Overall a poor experience.

The great food is ruined by being served in gross portions, far more than necessary. It is a dreadful waste.

We went to Bandar last night. It was restaurant week in San Diego, and we got a three course meal for $30.00. I had hummus, a sad, and a rack of lamb. The food was very good and there was a lot of it. We will have supper tonight with our leftovers.Mt Martini was good, and the manlike was excellent.I liked the atmosphere of this Persian restaurant. Bandar is located in the Gaslamp District. Even on a Sunday night it was hard to find parking.

We enjoyed a long business meal last week at Bandar. Food was excellent. Rice the best ever. Adas Polo (Lentils Rice & Chicken) outstanding! Also very good was the Eggplant Stew (Ghiemeh Bademjan). However, portions are very large and I suggest splitting an entree between two, perhaps with an appetizer or salad. We saw the mixed reviews on the service, and can agree that perhaps they need to work on improving the speed of the service.

First time in SD, we ran into this restaurant and decided to give it a try. It took them ~45 min to bring the food. I had ordered sour cherry rice and chicken and found two sour cherry seeds in my plate. The first one almost broke my tooth... we talked to the manager and she was like "things happen, the sour cherries come in a can and we just mix them with rice, I will write on menu that the dish may have seeds", and that was it, no apology! As if it was my fault to bite too hard! Very disappointing, never had such an experience.

This was an excellent “Persian” restaurant! The food was delicious and very generous servings. A great experience and we were well attended to by the servers. We thoroughly enjoyed the dessert, but couldn’t remember what it was called 🤔and it wasn’t named on the online menu. ☹️ Will most definitely go again next time we are in San Diego.

My husband, daughter, and I had an early dinner at Bandar in January. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown San Diego. We have been at this restaurant multiple times. It is a treat every time we visit. I was seated first because my husband and daughter were looking for parking (we came in separate cars). I was able to order a martini right away..and reviewed the menu quickly. I am familiar with the menu and knew what to order. The waitress was efficient and friendly... she brought lavash bread and my drink right away. When my family arrived we ordered 2 orders of the Chicken Soltani, 2 orders of the egg plant (KASHK-O BADEMJAN) an order of the cucumber dip (MUST-O KHIYAR). My husband and I shared the Chicken Soltani since the portions are big..I would have liked a little more of the basmati rice..but oh well..I ordered a second martini..my daughter ordered an ice tea, and my husband ordered a beer. Total without the tip was 150.94. I cannot wait to return. I highly recommend this restaurant. In my opinion....It is one of the best in San Diego. I have hundreds of tripadvisor reviews and do not take what I write lightly..if you want delicious food and a tranquil ambiance..this is the place.

We were in town for work, and my Persian husband was craving Persian food. We found Bandar and were not disappointed. The food was fresh, delicious, and authentic. It was so good that we came back a second time during our visit to San Diego. The tadig and lubia polo were wonderful. My husband loved the Soltani. Each dish tasted like home cooking. I highly recommend. It's a little pricey, but for the quality and quantity you receive, it's totally worth it. Go!

A very well appointed setting and great service, Bandar definitely deserves all the prizes and accolades it has won and are shown on its walls. Food was obviously the star of the night. We had a creamy and velvety pesto hummus, then a great special salad, with a strong but not overwhelming fetta cheese taste, which I loved. Finally, lamb shanks so tender on a bed of extra savory rice. Portions are so generous that we ended too full to try dessert. But the experience was so pleasant that we are bound to go back.

We looked at many of the Persian restaurants in the Gaslamp and opted for this one. Service and food very good. It was a bit pricey but kind of normal for the area. The eggplant stew was really good! We also had the beef soltani combination and totally enjoyed it. Its a bit dark inside, so we asked to sit in the window. That was a really good idea, since we were able to watch the people walking by. We would go back but probably next time for lunch since it's a lot cheaper than the dinner!

Let me start by saying the food tasted good (chicken was a little dry but not bad), the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was good. However, my wife and I BOTH got food poisoning immediately after eating here. We were both sick that night and the next day. Unfortunate and disappointing

The portions are very large. The two of us could have split one entree and been quite full. Instead we ordered a starter and two entrees and took enough home for a second meal. We had the eggplant starter, the Lubia Polo, and the Adas Polo. We liked the Adas Polo the best; it had more flavor than the Lubia Polo. Waitress was friendly and helpful, and the meal was delicious and filling, but also expensive!

I went in for lunch today. Sweet place, only one other table had guests. I was seated and ordered. The place started to fill up. A big table of 12 was seated next to me. After 20 minutes I asked the waiter to check the status of my order. He didn't come back. Another 20 minutes passed as I watched the tables around me being served. The same tables that came in 20 after I did. I mentioned to the waiter again to check my order. He went into the kitchen and returned with a plate. I was all happy -- but he made no eye contact, passed right by me and brought it to the table of 12. After 45 minutes I left hungry to return to work. Terrible experience.

I'm not sure what the name is of the Chicken kabob dish I ordered - but it was outstanding!! The service was incredibly attentive. This was a terrific dinner out for our group of six. We were well accommodated, not hurried, and served impeccably . Thank you so much and we will be back.

This applies to private reservations for large groups only. I had signed a contract months in advance for a private room. I was hosting a large group of physicians in town for a conference. I called both day before and day of to confirm the reservation. I arrived last after herding everyone to the restaurant to find the owners upset and anxious and demanding to have everyone sit down and order food (it was just before 5pm at this point). To my surprise we did not receive the private room I had booked and I found my party had been shown to the bar and they were all appropriately ordering drinks and talking to each other around the bar. The owner's were relentless and by 6pm I had to move the group to another restaurant after the owner interrupted everyone's conversations by banging a knife to a glass and demanding everyone be seated and order. Mind you - at the time we left, not a single customer was in the entire rest of the restaurant. Nevermind, they had placed them in a bar themselves with very little seating so naturally people decided to stand and talk and order drinks (only drinks and appetizers were stated in the contract since this was an early event). The owners really embarassed me in front of a number of colleagues and were incredibly unprofessional. The male owner launched into tirades about having to spend $5,000 minimum (nowhere in any writing or verbal communication prior) and that his wait staff needed to feed their kids, etc. It was incredibly bizarre and they kept saying that normally Iranians spent a lot of money and they were upset that in the first 15 minutes of arriving at 4:30pm, they were upset my group wasn't ordering lots of items. The owners are unintentionally racist with their disregard for decorum and assumptions about Iranians making statements like "I thought I could trust you because you are Iranian" and their behavior is unacceptable in this environment. This is perhaps the most offended and mortified I have been in a dining experience - and to think I made my own assumptions that I would be treated kindly by fellow Iranians. I would urge you to go elsewhere with any large group.

The food was excellent and staff were professional and attentive. Great experience and was very impressed with how hard the staff worked with a full dining room.

Had dinner at Bandar's Restaurant during a recent trip to San Diego. Bandar's is a Persian restaurant serving many dishes of this cuisine. My favorite food is Persian and I am very familiar with the food and how it is usually served. I ordered Zeresh Polo which is basmati rice with saffron and barberries (currants) and chicken usually served in a small casserole dish with lots of juice that is delicious on the rice. This is one of my favorite dishes. I was very surprised when the waiter brought my food. The chicken was not served in a dish with juice. Instead it was dry pieces of chicken breast. The portion was very generous but the chicken was so dry it was hard to swallow and there was no juice for the rice. The waiter was very generous and took it off my bill and replaced it with an order of basmati rice and Koobideh (ground beef kabobs) which was juicy and delicious. I would definitely try this restaurant again if I was in the area but I would order the Koobideh. The service was excellent and the prices consistent with other Persian restaurants. Note: This restaurant is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month so they much be doing something right.

This was a great experience especially as it was halal, great tasting Persian cuisine, large and I mean really large portions which we're not used to, and we managed to take away home the leftovers which still taste fantastic in the hotel. Our second experience of Persian cuisine, really impressed. Staff were good to get us a table, and made place for our child's buggy too.

Four of us at Bandar. Everything was perfect. The prices are a little high but very well worth it considering the quality and quantity of the food. Service was excellent., friendly and attentive. The meat was some of the best I have ever tasted. The atmosphere was clean and nice. We wouldall go back.

The success of Bandar is due to its owners who, day in and day out, are part of what goes on behind the scenes. Bandar is simply the best Persian restaurant in town! Everything is fresh, tasty and delicious. The service is superb and the experience thus becomes memorable. This is our to go place for my birthday, anniversary, my "I need something to make me happy", "I deserve the best" treat, I'm celebrating an accomplishment... Etc, etc... Just visit... You don't need to come up with a reason to have one of the best dinner experiences in San Diego. Not to mention that they have won recognitions right and left. I'm writing this review and thinking of the owners who are so customer service, the service which is superb, the lovely location which is central with inside or outside...the FOOD which is DELICIOUS... and the experience... MEMORABLE!

I loved this restaurants, food was tasty and top quality. This restaurant was recommended to us by one of the waiters at the Grand Del Mar, and we were very impressed. A must see if you are a fan of top quality Persian cuisine.

We had to walk out after waiting first several minutes for our waiter and once we ordered our food we waited almost an hour and just walked out.

Stopped by here while in town for a quick dinner. The place seemed quite packed but servers were quick and people looked they were enjoying themselves. Sat on the sidewalk and enjoyed watching people going to the theater nearby. The food was very good, I enjoyed the baked eggplant appetizer with delicious pita-like bread, and also the main dish which was their kabob. The portions are HUGE though so it's hard to get the right amount for a single diner, even though the waiter only gave me one kebab-stick of meat, the amount of rice could've sustained me through the next few days. Overall, great place, but come with a friend!

We always return to Bandar when we are in town. To our continued delight, the restaurant has not lost any of its top notch characteristics. Pleasant decor, competent staff and excellently prepared food. Come hungry, because the portions are plentiful. Don't leave for home without trying the "world famous chicken" with the rice.

The food was fabulous but very glad that we shared our meal - huge mixed salad with feta enhanced by a beautiful hints of olive oil and mint dressing. This was accompanied by a main course of delicious marinated chicken kebabs with roasted onions and peppers. The flavour was fantastic. We did struggle to finish the huge portions and would have taken away the leftovers if we were not staying in a hotel. The house Cabernet wine was also delicious. The only downside was that the restaurant closed so early despite its opening hours being until 10pm. We are still not used to eating out very early in the evening as is the habit in the US. As a result we were the last to leave and felt rather under pressure to finish up and go as the staff all had their coats on!

Where to start? From the beautiful decor, to the fabulous drinks and food, Bandar delivers on all counts. We each ordered the Chicken Kabob with rice and also an extra side of grilled vegetables. The food was perfectly spiced, the chicken was tender, and the presentation was perfection. There was plenty of food for leftovers. For dessert, we also ordered the pistachio ice cream, which was absolutely the most delicious ice cream we have ever had. It wasn't the classic green hued pistachio color, rather it was a golden color which came from I think the subtle and delicious inclusion of saffron. High marks for the first rate service from the hostess, servers and everyone there. We look forward to returning!

The chef is a long-term owner and clearly takes pride in creating authentic food and ambience. My wife is of Persian descent and she could very much verify this! After our meal, and after visiting with the owners, they gifted us with complimentary baklava and tea for dessert. What a wonderful experience it was!

Second time in 6 months did not dissappoint. Large servings enough to share. Even my Persian table guest was impressed. Service and wine list completed a great meal. Looking forward to my next trip to SD

We had an excellent dinner here last night. Everything had melded flavors making you want more. With that said, we still had leftovers after sharing each plate. We began with the Eggplant appetizer, which is plenty for two, and then followed it with Bandar salad. The salad was huge and we ate the remainder for lunch today. Our entree was Adas Polo, chicken and rice dish with a fascinating blend of flavors. We will enjoying the rest of that as well. Portions, obviously are plentiful, but more importantly delicious. They also make a great Old Fashioned and the "house Cabernet" was very good. Our server, Eduardo L was very attentive but not obtrusive. One of the owners, Shokooh Farahani was very involved in the running of the restaurant from the front. We were impressed with the food, service, ambience, and value and highly recommend it!

My husband & I were looking for some place to eat on St. Patrick's Day that was not a pub! I found this place in Open Table, checked out the menu & decided to try it. Excellent food & service. There is enough food on one entree to feed two people & the food was perfectly prepared. Our waiter was very friendly & we took home the remaining food for second meal. Definitely a great place to eat.

Enjoyed a great dinner at Bandar and just happened to walk by and decided to try given it was the only restaurant on the street that was busy! Great interior and environment, good for couples, business, friends or family. Tucked into an amazing lamb shank on a bed of rice with lima beans and dill. It was cooked perfectly. Tasted very authentic! Very generous portions!

We wanted to try something different for dinner and someone recommended this restaurant. The food was fantastic plus good service and a nice, yet casual atmosphere. The steak on the shish kebab was so tender, and the portion was huge! I would definitely recommend giving this place a try.

Not a great experience. Average food, average service, and a pricey bill at then end. Really disappointing.

The title sort of sums it up other than adding great value. This is a high class affordable restaurant close to the US Grant in the Gaslamp District.

Very good and quick Persian establishment. Had the staple khoboudeh. Excellent service. Place was mildly packed.

I have frequented Bandar Restaurant throughout the years from 1997 until 2013, and finally made back in 2022. The food taste and quality is still amongst the Best Persian Restaurants in the USA. We ordered the Eggplant appetizer called Kashk 0 Bademjoon and the CHICKEN COMBINATION hat has the World Famous Boneless Chicken Tenderloin (also know as Chicken Barg) that comes with a strip of Koobideh (Ground Beef) kabob, and it was truly a wonderful culinary delight....I could go there every night and be happy. The food taste and quality is truly that good, and I am not exaggerating. Now, here comes the HOWEVER, I did notice that the Customer Service and Server attentiveness has declined SIGNIFICANTLY. Now, the service wasn't the worst, butit was not great either. This can be fixed with training by owner and managers -- and I hope this aspect of the 'Restaurant Experience' improves and goes back to the way it used to be or better. Bon Appetit

The restaurant serves Persian foods and we went with colleagues from different countries. Everyone enjoyed the food as you can find chicken, lamb, beef and vegetarian foods which are all delicious. The food sizes are big so prepare for plenty to eat.

My wife has celiac disease so we are always looking for good gluten free food. I love chicken fesenjan so I was excited to find a Persian restaurant during our stay in San Diego. My wife had Adas Polo. The chicken was perfectly cooked. The char and spices were great and the rice mixed with dates+ was a great compliment to the chicken. My fesenjan was very good though the sweetness of the pomegranate pushed the walnut flavor too far into the background. The restaurant is well decorated and the staff is very helpful and friendly. My only complaint is that the "lunch" menu really isn't appropriate for lunch. The portions are too large and I would recommend that you order one to split at lunch.

This was our first trip to San Diego and we were staying in the downtown area. Two parents and two adult daughters, one of whom is Vegan. Trying to find a restaurant where we all can eat can be difficult. We chose this restaurant because it came up as Mediterranean and it had good reviews. It was great! First, they did everything to accommodate my daughter. Then my husband ordered a unique soup dish and because they knew you have to acquire a taste for that dish they gave him a sample before he ordered it. My other daughter and I ordered a kabob type meal with either rice or quinoa, which were not only delicious, each of our orders had enough food for 3 people. We brought our leftover to the room (with a frig) and we each had 2 lunches from that meal. The service was superb, the atmosphere very warm, the restaurant looked fancy but we, common midwest folks, felt comfortable, and the food was delicious.

We had a nice table at the outside seating area. The stuffed grape leaves that were okay but not the best we have had. The Barg (filet with Basmati Rice) was excellent. Service was very friendly and efficient.

Our Persian friends introduced us to this restaurant a few years ago and we have been visiting it every time we are in San Diego. We have ordered the chicken or lamb kabobs and they come with rice and a skewer of grilled tomatoes onions and green peppers. The chicken kabobs are marinated in saffron and are orange in colour. The kabobs are so big that 2 are sufficient per person. We ordered 2 dinners for the 3 of us and had ample left overs. They also serve special crispy persian rice which is delicious. So many things to chose from on the menu. Its a great place to go with a larger group since you can order many things off the menu and try different things this way.

I like this restaurant. It offers delicious and big dishes. Their meals are a mixture of Persian and Mediterranean plates. I strongly recommend chicken plates. They have friendly atmosphere and staff. Visit and enjoy their food.

Enjoyed our meal. Lamb chop tasty and tender. My wife had the “World’s greatest chicken” which was good and abundant. Saffron rice was excellent. Would return.

Since my husband has eaten at Bandar several times with our sons, he was eager for me to try it on a recent trip to San Diego. Bandar Restaurant is in the heart of Old Town and welcomes guests cordially. Décor is old-school and somewhat tired. The greeting from our waiter (Croatian, not Persian) was friendly, perhaps deceptively so as things turned out. Service was fast. The menu is also old-school and uninspired – basic Persian specialties without an updated offering or “dish of the day” to freshen things up. Bandar is known for the generosity of its platters: while that is true of its mains, the appetizer we ordered (kashk-o bandmjan --eggplant), while delicious, was meager for its price. It was accompanied by pita bread, not fresh and served stone cold, with butter. Excuse me, butter? Dessert was equally stingy, two small pieces of baklava, seeped in rosewater and cardamom, for $6 or so. My main was zereshk polo (chicken kabob with barberry rice), seven large McNuggets on a mound of basmati rice (fluffy and moist) with one broiled tomato for $26. The only difference between that and their “world famous chicken kabab” costing three dollars less was a light sprinkling of barberry fruits over the rice. The chicken and rice were the same, no difference in preparation, so I didn’t see that the addition of a handful of raisin-sized dots justified an extra three dollars. The nuggets were meaty and moist but bland with little trace of the “special sauce” in which they were marinated. My husband ordered the shish kabab (“marinated chunks of filet mignon skewered and charbroiled to perfection, served with grilled tomato, onion, and bell pepper”). Of the five generous chunks of beef, cooked medium-rare as requested, two were stringy and one cartilaginous. As with the chicken, the beef was bland and boring, with no suggestion of its marinade. The biggest problem came when the bill arrived. We were charged $39 for the shisk kabab, which had been listed at $31 on both my menu and the outside menu. We questioned our waiter, who said, “Oh the price has changed. It’s been marked on some menus.” Oh yeah? An EIGHT DOLLAR increase? Selectively marked on SOME menus? My husband, feeling benign after his bounteous $12 glass of Shiraz (for that price, it better be bounteous), decided not to press the issue. So we forked out $120 for two mains, one starter, one dessert, and one glass of wine, puh-leez.

It's located in the Gaslamp, downtown, great location. Most of the foods served were good and tasty. Some of the dishes came out warm/cold when is supposed to be served hot. Not enough servers. There was only one server for the entire section of 8 or 9 tables. The poor waiter was running like a dog but was not able to attend to all. Meanwhile the owner was just walking around and not helping. When we told the owner/manager one f the dishes was not hot, she was not pleased and blamed our taste for it, no apology or replacing the dish! a bit disappointed with the owner/manager attitude. I don't think that I will go back there.

The host/server has an awful attitude. The bus boy is nasty and impolite. Half way through eating they started removing dishes and cleaning the table. Despite telling them to wait until we are finished, they continued moving empty dishes over our head while we were trying to finish up our meal. One of the empty dishes almost fell on my head. Another empty dish almost hit me in face. There was absolutely no reason for this rush. Our stay was short and the restaurant was almost empty.

The entrees are more than sufficient for two. The chicken dishes were excellent as was the eggplant stew. Don’t forget to sprinkle sumac on the rice. The wait staff is well trained and the ambience is New York chic.

I am so shocked this was oily the ghormeh sabzi was burnt and the kabob was cold… The manager was rude and unwilling to help just argumentative and told me I have to pay for it even though I didn’t touch the food just smelled it.. I am so surprised how many good reviews are here? Trust that their food and service is terrible and stay away.

Nice atmosphere, cordial service but mediocre food overall. Humus appetizer was good. The Koobideh was tasteless.

Believe all the accolades: This is a wonderful and charming restaurant run by a hard working family who "gets it." We ordered the delicious "world famous chicken" which undoubtedly was intended for a small village. The plate was overflowing with perfectly prepared, crispy (read: not at all greasy) chicken. Equally as delightful? The gracious and interesting daughter with whom we chatted while we sipped our wine. Don't miss this one!

Can I give them 0 stars? They NEVER give OpenTable customers their points but instead marks them as no shows! Also, any substitution will cost you $6 extra. It's not cool to bait and switch the way these people do. That's it, after 2 visits and the same lousy lame service, we're not going there any more.

The food was awesome and the atmosphere was very nice and relaxing. Very nice place to go after a long day or for visitors.

I have dined at Persian restaurants for years in Los Angeles and Orange County. never have had a bad experience until Bandar, from the food quality to the price. Hard to believe that an appetizer(eggplant) plus two chicken dinners and two beers would total $127, incredibly overpriced and mediocre taste. The chicken was dry and overcooked piled on a huge bed of dry rice. The service was ok but not overly-friendly. after reading several glowing reviews and many critical comments, it was difficult to believe that any discerning diner would rate this place positively. .Overall, a most disappointing evening in every respect.

centrally located on fourth st., near concert venues, hotels, and nightlife. good persian/indian cuisine. especially enjoyed the hummus sampler, dolmus, shish-kabob, and lamb.

Such a family friendly restaurant, our kids loved the rice and chicken, and the staff was very friendly!!! We will defifintly be back again:)

This restaurant is excellent & very well run. Staff are polite, well trained & very helpful with menu suggestions. Food was wonderful & nothing was left on our plates after ordering several dishes. Even room for a suburb ice-cream desert. Highly recommend this delightful restaurant & their wonderful food.

One of the best Persian restaurants ever. I have to go there every time I am in San Diego. It's located downtown San Diego. The food is very authentic and the service is excellent. I recommend their Chicken :-)

Very nice interior, staff very friendly and attentive, food can be a bit slow coming out of the kitchen. The food is a bit hit or miss and entree portions can be enormous.

Back in San Diego this weekend with wife Strolling down 4th and found BANDAR - great find. The eggplant starter was a suggestion from our waiter!!! What a way to start. The right amount of everything eggplant garlic and onions. Devine The main course BARG - filet mignon was just perfect Wife had chicken and salad that would feed an army. Huge portions and the staff had huge hearts! Thank you for a great experience

I love this place and during my business trips to SD is a must place to go. But this time, I felt like that the Kobideh kabob was not original . Tested old or maybe made in the oven. Very disapponted

The great location in downtown. The food was good and delicious. The service was perfect. Helpful and friendly

Love this restaurant in downtown San Diego. Mediterranean and Persian food. Many vegetarian choices. Love the eggplant dishes.

These folks really do it right. Gracious host. Elegant decor. Large portions of exquisitely prepared food. Great service. Chicken Kabobs excellent. Broiled Lamb superb. Lamb shank stew perfect. Try the eggplant appetizer. Wines reasonable. All around great evening. Go and enjoy!

We greatly enjoyed our dinner at Bandar. The menu is varied, as are the flavors, with distinct differences from other Mediterranean or Middle Eastern fare. Portion sizes are very generous, and the service was gracious. We would definitely recommend Bandar.

In town for business, returned based on experience several years ago, was pleased it was even better than I remembered! Shirazi salad was fresh, generous and tasty - I had to keep my wife from taking more than her fair share. She raved about the eggplant stew (Gheimegh Bademjan). I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken combination (chicken and koobideh), although portion was more than both of us could have eaten. It made for a nice snack prior to flight out later in the week. We chose the Bandar chardonnay to accompany our dinner and it was a great accompaniment.

While in San Diego for a conference we went here for dinner on the advice of our concierge at the Hilton. Her advice was spot on. We sat on a table outside and were treated to excellent dishes. The servings were very large. Of more importance, however, was the quality. My charbroiled chicken (Zerkeshk Poo) was delicious. I have never had restaurant chicken as moist an tender anywhere around the globe. The barberry rice was a perfect accent with a tantalizing blend of sweet and tarts barberries in the mix of basmati and saffron rice. My wife's lamb (Boneless Lamb) had a distinct taste with a perfect balance between spices and the taste of lamb. We are sated and happy. Bandar will be a regular stopping place for us every time we are in San Diego.

I wouldn't expect the owner of a place that charges $30 for a plate to be so cheap... Made a reservation for two on Thanksgiving evening and ordered a chicken, a filet mignon, and two draft beers. Before the food arrived, I dropped my beer on the table (had drank 1/3), and we had to move to a new clean table. In a great demonstration of thanksgiving spirit, the owner refused to give me a new beer without charge! Honestly, I cannot judge their food, because the only memory I will have from this thanksgiving dinner will be this cranky old lady and the $76 check for two entrees and two beers (yes, they charged me for the one I dropped too). I will never go back and I don't recommend it to anyone.

I had dinner at Bandar restaurant. The food is exceptional and the service is excellent. I've dined here before and the quality is consistent. The staff is very friendly, going out of their way to accommodate guests. I noticed several large parties arrive for dinner and tables were arranged to seat them all. Always look forward to dining at Bandar when I'm in San Diego.

This Persian restaurant in downtown San Diego that has an ideal location across from Horton Plaza and at the edge of the Gaslamp offers fine dining without a white tablecloth and high prices. Although the last time my partner and I had resolved to share only one entrée as they are served on a platter with a mound of rice, we didn't, so went home with a generous helping in a takeaway box. A well-supplied bar stretches in 1 of the 2 dining areas and features drinks with unusual names and ingredients, such as a Pomegranate Martini.

I've been here a few times but never as a large group, until our last visit we were a group of 12 and the server had everything served family style for us and it was the best!!!! I will definitely be back here next time I want to host a large group.

You need to come and give this place a try. The food is overflowing with flavor, especially their flagship chicken entree. Highly recommended for lunch or dinner.

My husband and I really like this restaurant for numerous reasons. One...the food is very good. Two..service is normally efficient. We had an awesome lunch last Sunday. We ordered the following: eggplant and cucumber appetizer, feta and olives, 2 orders of the chicken soltani, 1 beefeater martini, and 1 beer...total price without the tip was 125.41. Expensive? Yes, but worth it. The servings are very large. My husband and I shared one of the entrees, the other order went to our daughter....Still we were not able to finish the leftovers the next day. Service was pretty quick and efficient. This restaurant has a nice ambiance. If you are interested in trying different cuisines..I would recommend Bandar. It is a lovely place. Tips for tourists...parking is difficult.. I would recommend parking in the public parking across the street. I wish I could eat here every week. Food is delicious and healthy. Thank you Bandar I appreciate your hospitality and good food.

I ate here because I was going to a play at the nearby Lyceum Theater. The portions were very large. I had BBQ chicken and rice pilaf with dates and raisins. The pilaf had plenty of raisins, a few lentils, and exactly one date. Everything was OK, but the flavors were a bit bland. Even the bread that was served had little taste or flavor (believe me, any of the varieties of Persian Bread can be absolutely delicious) There was sumac on the table, which helped. They also brought lemon for the chicken, which helped, but not too much: the chicken simply was not cooked with enough spices. Service was sufficiently attentive, if perfunctory. Ambiance was not too inviting or interesting. I doubt that I would dine here again, unless I was attending a play nearby, and would opt for other dishes.

Where to go when you are just not in to the St Patrick Day drink and noise fest. We'll find an ethnic restaurant and we are partial to anything Mediterranean. The time share we are staying at provides a discount as additional incentive. I started with Barley Soup which had very little salt and delicate seasoning. I would much rather add light salt to taste then be overwhelmed by the salt that most chefs feel compelled to use. My wife had Cucumber Dip made with yogurt that she raved about. Her entree was Wild Pink Salmon with Saffron Rice. It is prepared kabob style and was moist and flavorful. I had Chicken Soltana a combination of well seasoned and tender Chicken Tenderloin and Ground Beef pressed into Kabobs. As the picture shows the serving even for this hearty eater is huge and easily enough for two meals. This is a hidden gem and the perfect place to avoid the St Patrick's day crazies.

My son recommended this Persian restaurant and it was outstanding. Great chicken, lamb and beef. The rice is to die for! Great service

Every time we visit SD from LA , we have to go to this restaurant for their great Persian foods. The kabobs are so tender and fresh and recommend Barg or filet . Location is great and the staffs are welcoming and friendly.

Fantastic location. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Great appetizers. Main courses very tasty but fair warning- huge portions. Recommend.

Fantastic food and service. Great place for a dinner date or a business dinner. Will return again and continue to try new menu items.

This is a very clean and beautiful restaurant. The food is light and delicious! We ordered the famous chicken with a kebab vegetables and jasmine & safran rice. A large bowl of yogurt with cucumber and mint. Of course a large glass of Rose wine! Tips: 1) arrive by 5pm, you can park in front of the restaurant and no wait to get in. 2) no reservations needed.

the food was good but it was not 100% Persian food. The atmosphere is very nice and the location is in the nice historic district.

Needed to have dinner before concert at Spreckels and wanted to stay close. Gave friend some suggestions and he picked Bandar! I had been here before and remember enjoying the food. I was at a wedding recently where they served Shirazi Salad and was craving that since I knew we were coming here and each of us couples ordered one. We were served by Tiba who was very cordial and attentive. They have 'bread' and butter at the table but we ordered the oven toasted 'bread' which was more flavorful. We also got a Bandar Salad and split it among the four us. We ordered a main plate to share as they give you LOTS of delicious food. Our friends split the Wild King Salmon and we ordered the Chicken Soltani. Yum. Yum. Yum. The chicken was very, very tasty and moist. The ground fillet was what you expect when you order a good piece of beef. Our friends really enjoyed there Salmon and said it was the best they had eaten anywhere. I ordered a glass of wine but they also have a very nice fully stocked bar. Overall a very good dining experience and plan to come back soon!

The World Famous chicken as they call it, is really good. It's moist and delicious. The eggplant appetizer it's amazing. The rice with dates it's a very nice combination and it tastes really good. Service is very friendly.

I had a first time visit to Bandar Restaurant in San Diego. There were 8 of us, and we were quickly seated. The menu has a number of great individual selections, but we decided to go family style. Wow is what I have to say! The presentation alone was impressive, and the food was excellent! We started with a great salad, followed by meat platters of lamb, steak, chicken, ground beef/lamb, and grilled veggies. We also had a selection of rices dishes including saffron, lentil, bayberry and cherry dishes. We had more than we could eat. The service was prompt and the servers were pleasant. This was a great experience and I would go back again.

We went their as a group of 4 friends because it serves halal meat, we found it to have nice decorations with lovely outdoor seating area. The portions were large, none of us could finish their world famous chicken. The taste was fine, nothing wow but we liked it.

Great Persian food in a beautiful setting. Service (particularly Joseph) is awesome! Prepare for large portions of excellent saffron rice with succulent meat.

The food here is so yummy. The portions are really generous so I would advise not getting a starter unless you want to take some home with you. We shares the combination for 2 people, we ordered the ‘world famous chicken’ and ‘boneless lamb’. Both so tender and tasty! The staff were polite and friendly and the décor inside the restaurant is lovely. Would highly recommend this place and hopefully we can come back again one day.

Was on our way somewhere else that had a long wait and popped into Bandar this evening. Fortunately they found us a table by the door and it was already busy before 7pm which bode well. A great selection of food, in fact too much in terms of quantity and we would have been better sharing a main. As a Persian myself, I thought this was a very good find, and you won’t be disappointed.

We went for dinner , food is good and tasty , large portions , ambience is good , service is not slow but servers are not accommodating and not willing to make any changes . I believe they are not well trained as this appears to be a family run business . Bread was cold we asked them to give us warm bread , they told us , there will be extra charge for warm bread .

Every time I'm in San Diego, this is a must stop for dinner. Some of my favorites are of course the Kashk-o Bademjan (eggplant appetizer), Ghormeh Sabzi, Gheimeh Bademjan (eggplant stew), Koobideh kabob (grouond filet) and Chicken Shish Kabob to name a few. They're food is organic and gluten free. I was there a few weeks ago for a convention and took a few of my colleagues to have they're first experience with Persian cuisine. Our waiter that night was Vladimir. He was very hands on and checked on us frequently to ensure our experience was an excellent one. Very friendly and helpful. This is not a restaurant you come to wanting to get in and out of quickly. Most everything is cooked to order. Come hungry as the portions are large and can be shared. The restaurant is small and very charming and inviting. Overall a wonderful experience. A true gem in the Gaslamp district.

We really liked this place – it’s upmarket and well laid out, with tables not too close to each other, and a very pleasant ambience with good service and welcoming staff. There was only one vegetarian item on the menu – vegetable stew – but it was really delicious, and there were lots of vegetarian starters, including dolmeh, which was served hot. Helpings were enormous, but the restaurant offers customers the option of taking uneaten food away. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take up the offer, since we were due to travel home the following day. All in all, an excellent place to choose for a meal.

Our group of 4 ate here. Although it was not particularly busy, this is quite a large restaurant with a length menu of various grilled meats and excellent accompaniments. The most popular dishes appear to be the combo dinners. I had the char broiled kabob cornish hen which was tasty, very hot (from the grill) and nicely seasoned. It was served with a large pile of rices, including saffron rice. This was a large portion of meat. I think our favorites, however, were the appetizers especially the incredible eggplant with rich onion and garlic flavors and the cucumber dip. My only slight disappointment was a very limited cocktail menu. Highly recommended and good service

Although we blinked when our helpful waiter assumed we were going to share a dinner, we weren't sorry that we ordered two main courses. The food is authentic, tasty, and comes in large portions. My Wild King Alaska Salmon almost fell over the edges of the large plate. We packed up three cartons to take home and feasted again on day #2 at our dining table. Both the food and service is excellent in this Persian restaurant with a super modern decor. For incredible lamb, shis kabobs, and eggplant stew, go to Bandar restaurant.

I went to the Bandar restaurant recently with a group of 7 people. Instead of each of us getting our own entree, the waiter suggested that we could order a large salad and 4-5 entrees to serve family style. The food is all good and it is different from the kind of food most people routinely eat. By serving family style we were able to have a taste of many of their excellent selections. Sharing the dishes family style also made the occasion feel more communal. The place is elegant. The service excellent. The noise level in the room was loud enough to feel vibrant, but quiet enough that I could easily converse with and hear every person at the table instead of just the people right next to me. The entire staff made you feel like you were their guests instead of just another customer. Finally, although the food and service were excellent, and the place was elegant, the cost of the meal was very reasonable.

I really would give this restaurant a 4 1/2 star rating if that were possible. It's not quite a 5 only because the menu selection is very limited for those who don't eat meat. However, you can do what I did and eat an appetizer as an entrée, which worked out fine. I had not had Persian food before, but was happy to see it was similar to Greek, which I love. I had the cucumber dip (what would be tzatziki in a Greek restaurant) as my actual appetizer and it was very good and refreshing, and the portion was large. Then as my entrée, I ordered another appetizer, the spanakopita, which was not the best I've had but was good. The spinach was a little dry, but the phyllo was light and flakey and good. I put a little of the cucumber dip on top of it and it was fine. I also had the saffron rice, which was surprisingly wonderful. My daughter had a lamb stew that she said was quite good, and my son had the "world famous chicken." It was a huge platter of chicken and rice, and he wasn't able to finish it all (and he can usually eat quite a lot). That could be because he had a rather large eggplant dish for appetizer. All in all, it was all very good and I would return, but they need to provide more of the unleavened bread, especially with the cucumber dip. I would have to say I do prefer the pita in Greek restaurants to this thin, layered flat bread.

Having read great reviews here and in Lonely Planet, we were looking forward to a great meal. The good tasted very ordinary/bland and the portions were ridiculous I.e. one main would feed at least 2 if not 3 hungry people- terrible waste of food. Cannot understand the great reviews tbh.

The food was excellent and staff friendly and attentive. The portions (especially the World Famous Chicken) are huge - consider sharing the entree.

In the Gaslamp Quarter, is a gem: well decorated, nice service and an outstanding middle-eastern (Persian, to be specific) food. Appetizers (feta, olives and grilled eggplant) and entrée (rack of lamb with jasmine rice) were very good. Very good price for what you get, particularly considering that the portions are big enough to share.

A great place to go for Mediterranean inspired meals. Entree portions are large so can easily be shared. The stuffed grape leaves are excellent. Service is friendly and efficient. Good selection of wines.

We had seven in our group and everybody loved their meal. We chose this restaurant based on high trip advisor comments. We made reservations, which I highly recommend on a Saturday night. The combination appetizer was plenty for seven. The World Famous Chicken is wonderful. I have enough left over for days of meals. Several had the salmon and loved it. The service was superior than most restaurants. We will be back. Highly recommend.

We where there for dinner tonight. The host was also the server and he was so unfriendly. He was the face of the restaurant and be because of this We would never go back. We asked for the password for the guest wifi and was told it does not exist, however, it came up on our phones. He also seemed like he didn’t want to be there. We thanked him for extra plates and said thank you when he brought them and did not receive a response. As for the food, The salad dressing was 90 percent lime juice however the chicken was really good. But the sever put a bad taste in our mouth!!

This wonderful restaurant was recommended to us by our new local friends and it did not disappoint. The avocado hummus was so fresh and delicious as was the Bandar salad. Then came the Adas Polo - basmati rice mixed currant raisins, lentils, dates, and saffron served with juicy charcoal broiled chicken tenderloin. We also added in a strip of koobideh - charcoal broiled seasoned ground filet - to compliment the meal and it was amazing as well. The interior is warm and inviting as is the service. The variety of menu items affords many choices for those with food allergies or preferences. A great place for both families and friends - don’t miss it!!

The location of the restaurant is good and the inside is nicely decorated. The service is very slow. The food portions are large, nicely presented and looks good but the the quality of the food was very disappointing. We were a group of friends and almost all of us were disappointed. Our food was served cold. My husband got the chicken combination, the koobideh was good but the chicken was really dry and tasteless. I got the lamb shank which was chewy and too greasy. I couldn't eat at all. I've had lamb shank a lot before and in fact it's one of my favorites but this was the worst I've ever had. I definitely won't come back and I don't recommend it to anyone.