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“As the most renowned Persian & Middle Eastern restaurant in San Diego, Sadaf stands tall as a beacon of independent ownership and family dedication. Beyond the culinary excellence that graces our menu, we prioritize crafting a warm, inviting atmosphere where every patron can relish their dining experience.With a successful legacy spanning over 3 decades, Sadaf is a peaceful, inviting restaurant nestled in the heart of Downtown, the Great Gaslamp Quarter. Wholly focused on providing the highest quality dishes possible from the best quality ingredients, we remain committed to providing our guests what we always have, the best Persian & Middle Eastern cuisine in Southern California in a comfortable environment, with a friendly atmosphere.
Kebabs & other Persian standards in an unpretentious brick-lined space, plus sidewalk seating.
Hours
| Friday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Monday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 828 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 338-0008
Website: https://www.sadafsd.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: sadafsd.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Amir Tahami
Sadaf in downtown San Diego is a decent spot for Persian food, but my visits have been mixed overall. On the first visit, the Baghali Polo with lamb shank had good flavor, but the meat was tougher than expected and not falling off the bone like in better Persian restaurants. Kashk Bademjan was tasty but made with yogurt instead of traditional kashk, while the Mast-o-Moosir and warm naan were both flavorful and enjoyable.
On a second visit, the tahdig was served with two stews that are traditionally meat-based, but here were offered as vegetarian versions, which felt unusual for a classic preparation. Friendly service and a cozy atmosphere help, but overall the experience still lands at 3 stars for me.
… moreOn a second visit, the tahdig was served with two stews that are traditionally meat-based, but here were offered as vegetarian versions, which felt unusual for a classic preparation. Friendly service and a cozy atmosphere help, but overall the experience still lands at 3 stars for me.
Vanessa Davis
My daughter found this place for some lunch near our trek. We were searching for good food in the Gaslight Quarter.
I suspect it was the owner or manager that took our order.
The presentation was good, but the temperature of the meal was lukewarm. The meal had good spices but lacked salt. Our appetizer never came. Our meals were served with warmth from the lady. During our meal, we had to hear the owner or manager berate the server, which arrived after we were already there. The conversation was less than desired during our meal. Overall, we were underwhelmed with the food.
… moreI suspect it was the owner or manager that took our order.
The presentation was good, but the temperature of the meal was lukewarm. The meal had good spices but lacked salt. Our appetizer never came. Our meals were served with warmth from the lady. During our meal, we had to hear the owner or manager berate the server, which arrived after we were already there. The conversation was less than desired during our meal. Overall, we were underwhelmed with the food.
M E
The most authentic koobideh I’ve had in a long time. It was unbelievably delicious and cooked to perfection, no fillers , just meat and onions. Not too salty and no strange spices that don’t belong in kabob either. Such a joy! We’ll be back
… moreZahra Abdi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best Persian food in San Diego — hands down.
This is by far the most authentic and high-quality Persian restaurant we’ve tried in San Diego. The koobideh and chicken kabob were incredibly fresh and delicious, and the tadig was perfectly crisp (not soggy at all).
We’ve tried many Persian restaurants here — most were average at best — but Sadaf truly stands out.
Great prices too.
Also, the❤️ owner❤️ is genuinely kind and welcoming, and makes you feel like family. We’ll be coming here regularly from now on.
… moreBest Persian food in San Diego — hands down.
This is by far the most authentic and high-quality Persian restaurant we’ve tried in San Diego. The koobideh and chicken kabob were incredibly fresh and delicious, and the tadig was perfectly crisp (not soggy at all).
We’ve tried many Persian restaurants here — most were average at best — but Sadaf truly stands out.
Great prices too.
Also, the❤️ owner❤️ is genuinely kind and welcoming, and makes you feel like family. We’ll be coming here regularly from now on.
RAHR Jiyanin
First visit was for to go, but one of the meals I paid for was missing. While the ready meals were getting cold, I had to wait 45 minutes for the missing meal.
Second visit was dinning so I really wanted to have a decent warm meal. Unfortunately the meal was so cold, wasn’t sure if this was even new food. The stew was very unfresh, kebab was literally charcoal because it was over burned. They still had the face to suggest 18% tip as minimum .
Service: a very old woman was working by herself, she took her sweet time as if she was walking on eggshells, owner decided to sit at a table relaxing instead of helping. We waited over an hour to get food & it took her 45 minutes to get our drinks.
I wanted to give the a last chance: when I tried to place an order for 2 over the phone, a woman insisted to take my credit card info ahead of taking my order. This is not ok! I clearly said I will pay in person, but she refused.
I will never ever give this place my business. There are so many choices out there!
… moreSecond visit was dinning so I really wanted to have a decent warm meal. Unfortunately the meal was so cold, wasn’t sure if this was even new food. The stew was very unfresh, kebab was literally charcoal because it was over burned. They still had the face to suggest 18% tip as minimum .
Service: a very old woman was working by herself, she took her sweet time as if she was walking on eggshells, owner decided to sit at a table relaxing instead of helping. We waited over an hour to get food & it took her 45 minutes to get our drinks.
I wanted to give the a last chance: when I tried to place an order for 2 over the phone, a woman insisted to take my credit card info ahead of taking my order. This is not ok! I clearly said I will pay in person, but she refused.
I will never ever give this place my business. There are so many choices out there!
Rod Gullo
Excellent Persian food! The best in San Diego, hands down. My favorite is the lamb kebab; very tender and seasoned perfectly. Update: Got a lamb kebab plate and a lamb shank plate. Both were excellent! Update: Got a lamb kebab plate and a lamb shank plate. Both were excellent as usual! Tried the Persian ice cream. The taste was ok, but as you can see in the picture more than half of it had ice crystals like it was freezer burned. We had expected excellent quality ice cream for $10.40. We will not order it again.
… moreJessy R
Without a doubt, this is the best and most authentic Persian food in San Diego. My husband is Persian and eats here frequently – he loves it. I finally got a chance to try it today, and I’m blown away. The koobideh and chicken kabob are incredibly fresh, high-quality, and simply delicious. I also loved the tadig with the stew – it was fresh and perfectly crisp, not soggy. We’re relatively new to the area and have tried all the Persian restaurants. Most were either terrible or just average. This is the only one we truly enjoy, and we’ll be visiting from now on. The prices are great too.
… moreRichard Harris
Came here during Comic Con. Service and food were great. Wasn’t very busy which was surprising considering how good the food was. Had the Shirazi Salad which was very refreshing and the Lamb Rack which was cooked perfectly and delicious. Highly recommend if you’re in town!!
… moreBrian Anderson
Never been to San Diego before. After settling into our hotel we wanted to sample local food. We walked by Sadaf.
I’d never persian cuisine, and wasn’t sure about it.
Luke was out front and did a GREAT job explaining how the food was prepared, the spices involved and how it was cooked.
I had the lamd with rice. OH MY GOD was it DELICIOUS!! My daughter and wife had beef steak kabobs. The fresh made naan (bread) was served freash and hot. EVERYTHING was top notch!
Sadaf was not just a restaurant, this place was an experience! My glass never emptied, service was amazing
The decor was like sitting in a restaurant in persia. The place was very clean!
Prices were reasonable as well.
I was going to just grab a slice of pizza and walk down the street, but I would have missed out on a great dinner!
… moreI’d never persian cuisine, and wasn’t sure about it.
Luke was out front and did a GREAT job explaining how the food was prepared, the spices involved and how it was cooked.
I had the lamd with rice. OH MY GOD was it DELICIOUS!! My daughter and wife had beef steak kabobs. The fresh made naan (bread) was served freash and hot. EVERYTHING was top notch!
Sadaf was not just a restaurant, this place was an experience! My glass never emptied, service was amazing
The decor was like sitting in a restaurant in persia. The place was very clean!
Prices were reasonable as well.
I was going to just grab a slice of pizza and walk down the street, but I would have missed out on a great dinner!
Bahareh Jozranjbar
If you’ve ever wanted to experience the depth of Iranian cuisine but felt limited by the meat-heavy menu options elsewhere, you must try this place. It is an absolute game-changer.
While most Persian restaurants rely heavily on kebabs, this spot truly shines with its vegetarian options. It’s rare to find a place that puts this much love into plant-based dishes.
What to Order:
The Stews: You can actually try vegetarian versions of the most famous Iranian stews here! I had the veggie Ghormeh Sabzi (herb stew), and the flavor profile was incredible, deep, savory, and lemony, exactly how it should be, but without the meat. It didn’t feel like a compromise.
The Doogh: Do not leave without ordering a glass of their Doogh. It is hands down some of the best I’ve ever had, perfectly creamy, and distinctively minty. It pairs perfectly with the rich flavors of the stews.
Whether you are a vegetarian or just love exploring new flavors, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended
… moreWhile most Persian restaurants rely heavily on kebabs, this spot truly shines with its vegetarian options. It’s rare to find a place that puts this much love into plant-based dishes.
What to Order:
The Stews: You can actually try vegetarian versions of the most famous Iranian stews here! I had the veggie Ghormeh Sabzi (herb stew), and the flavor profile was incredible, deep, savory, and lemony, exactly how it should be, but without the meat. It didn’t feel like a compromise.
The Doogh: Do not leave without ordering a glass of their Doogh. It is hands down some of the best I’ve ever had, perfectly creamy, and distinctively minty. It pairs perfectly with the rich flavors of the stews.
Whether you are a vegetarian or just love exploring new flavors, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended