Sadaf Restaurant

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.

Had a party of 7 the service and food were amazing. Appetizers were delicious. Went to celebrate my nephews birthday. Thank you for the having a variety of food to choose from . We’ll be back .

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.

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 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.