Bandar

Made a reservation for 6 people at 6 on a Tuesday! When we arrived, it was empty but that quickly changed- yes on a Tuesday!

Service was great- we asked a lot of questions. 2 of our group were stuck at work, so 4 of us ordered probably 6 people worth of food. We ordered the Bandar salad, group appetizer, then famous chicken, steak skewers, & the chef special, along with a bottle of wine. Everything arrived quickly, we all had left overs, and everyone was happy.

The ambiance is great, kinda romantic, dim light, modern but very attractive.

No doubt we will be back!

Excellent food- authentic. Great service, 5 star feel, very polished. Best chicken ever!

Hands down one of the best Persian restaurants in San Diego. The chicken kebabs are amazing. The portions are huge. I suggest you get one combo kebab and share and try some other dish. Kebabs can easily feed three people.
The service was attentive. We had a party of nine so 20% tip was automatically added. The design of the inside was elegant but not over done.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me take you on a gastronomic rollercoaster ride to Bandar, the Persian food oasis where taste meets the unexpected!

I strolled into this culinary wonderland, my taste buds tingling with excitement, and promptly ordered the Chicken Soltani. What arrived was a symphony of flavors, with both beef and chicken cooked to well-done perfection. I mean, they were so tender that I half-expected them to whisper sweet culinary secrets to me.

But here's where things took an unexpected twist. That chicken, folks, it was almost like it was rebelling against the laws of poultry physics, hanging onto its undercooked essence with all its might. I leaned over to my dining companions, raising an eyebrow, and they just chuckled, saying, "Oh, that's just how it is here, my friend!"

Now, here's where the story takes a dramatic turn. Two out of the six of us, including yours, truly embarked on an adventure of our own after dining at Bandar - an adventure with a sudden, explosive climax. I won't go into the gory details, but let's just say that was the last thing we ate that evening, and it's never happened to me before!

Bandar, you've given me a meal I won't soon forget, and a story that's guaranteed to make anyone's eyes widen. Dining here is like diving headfirst into a Persian flavor tornado - exhilarating, delicious, and occasionally filled with surprises you didn't see coming!

We wanted to have Persian food and celebrate the start of our vacation.

Aaron, our waiter was great. We can only say good things about his level of service.

We ordered Tahdig rice, salad and the lamp chops. We've had/made tahdig rice many times. Bandar's version tasted like under cooked rice. The crunch top had ZERO fluffy rice underneath. It was opaque in color and no flavor.
When we ordered the lamp chops, Aaron coached us how to order to meet our needs and the way the kitchen cooks.
The salad was great, no issues. It was delicious!
Our lamp chops came back more than raw (we ordered med rare). I think the lamb chops were still alive. We sent back to cook more. They came back close to the same condition. We ate a few small pieces that appeared to be more cooked. We left most of the meat on the plate.
By know, we are frustrated and wanted to leave. Paid the $250 bill and left .
Later that evening and into the next morning, we felt terrible (upset stomach).
We should have realized the quality with only a few tables occupied.
Complete disappointment, waste of money and time of vacation.

Wow!!!! Fabulous! The food is amazing. Wonderful and earthy. the use of saffron and lime. the blend of meats with fruits and nuts, a unique way of cooking rice, with subtly spices, delicate in flavor. The rice with cranberries was an unexpected treat . The eggplant dip and cucumber dip was so tasty and creamy. I ended up putting that on everything . What an unbelievable treat to experience. Thank you.

Came here for drinks before a show at the Balboa theatre. $19 EACH for drinks, one was an old fashioned (very basic drink), plus they added a surcharge. Outrageously expensive. Plus, the bar stools were very uncomfortable and the specialty cocktails had no descriptions on the menu so you'd have to ask what each one had in it. We won't be back.

Great Food, Ambience classy, Amazing service, I believe it's family run attention to detail!!! Food was served hot along with great flavor. Big Portions spit 1 plate. Would highly recommend for ME food.

I read an article about top ethnic restaurants in San Diego and I have realized I have not been to this one. Not really sure why. The parking is a challenge in this area of downtown and the streets are one way. It will be a while to get here.

We were greeted at the door by a very polite gentleman, who turned out to be the person who took care of us.

This is a very clean and classy place, I have to admit doesn't really look like a Persian restaurant.

While waiting for the appetizer, and drinks, I checked the reviews and I was disappointed. I guess I realized why I have not been here. In a city with plenty of places 4.5 and above, I rarely go anywhere rated at 3.9.

Kashk-e bademjan arrived, as well as mast-e-mousir. Amazing presentation, amazing quality, and the texture was just right. Exactly as t has to be. Although I personally like a little more sautéed mint on kashk-e-bademjan, but that was my problem at home too! Homemade dough was just right. We had been offered to have more bread and we said yes.

Food arrived, the proportions were insane. Kababs were large, jucy, and at the same time tender. No bad smell as a result of using subpar ingredients. Shirin polo was absolutely right. It was as if it was a real albaloo-polo, not a white rice with added cherry to it at the time of serving.

We had to pack half of each dish to go, and no room for deserts. Although we have been told they have many Iranian deserts in the menu, such as Makhloot, Faloodeh, ... May be next time.

This is a relatively expensive place. It is in one of the most crowded places of the city, and I am sure the real estate itself is a premium. I think if I have to pay $30 to park, then I should not complain about the cost of the food.

I waited for couple of days to write the review, I wanted to see how the leftover will be, it was awesome.

I read many reviews about this place after. I am not a person that I say if a place is expensive do not go. I actually believe that price has to be fair. Chelokabab may cost you twice as anywhere else, but it worth every penny. The ambient itself and the politeness of the person who served us worth more than the food.

I love food, and I will be back in this place again, once I crave some more Iranian foods.



https://bahram-zehtabfard.blogspot.com/2023/10/20231031-bandar-restaurant-san-diego.html

bahram.us

Adding to my original review!
Went back to Bandar on 2/3/24 with some friends and had an amazing time. Our server Tiba did an amazing job and the food was the most delicious Kabak in San Diego. They serve generous amount of dishes which is enough for 2-3 person. We also received complimentary tahdig courtesy of the owners. The only draw back is parking which is difficult to find and pricy.
I highly recommend.