Shish Taouk Restaurant

Reviews

• JO

  Jaden Oser

  4 days ago
  5.0
  The front guy was hilarious, excellent customer service, and it was a overall great experience
• JC

  Joyner Cruz

  5 days ago
  5.0
  This place is awesome. Plates are about $20 which seems like a lot, but after eating here I feel the cost is justified and would gladly return. Portions are relatively large imo. Food is delicious. Owner is exceptionally accommodating for people with celiacs as well.
• MA

  Mahi Alai

  6 days ago
  5.0
  An old school style restaurant with the kindest and warmest hospitality. Real authentic food and Bilal was lovely.
• LH

  Leila Habibabadi

  Sep 20, 2026
  5.0
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Wonderful Find in Mission Viejo! My father and I discovered Shish Taouk Restaurant, owned and operated by Mr. Bilal Agha, quite unexpectedly after purchasing a mattress across the street at Custom Comfort Mattress in Mission Viejo. I’m so glad we decided to stop in! From the moment my father, who has severe hypertension, walked in, Bilal immediately noticed that he needed to cool down and turned on the air conditioning for him. That small gesture meant a lot to us. ❤️ We were actually Bilal’s first customers of the day, as he had just opened, yet he made us feel as though we were longtime guests in his home. He spent a great deal of one-on-one time with us, sharing stories about his childhood, upbringing, parents, wife, siblings, children, extended family, and friends. His warmth and hospitality were unmistakable. The restaurant itself adds to that feeling. As I looked around at the walls and tables, I was fascinated by the beautiful artwork, collages, and historic pieces throughout the space. Many carry history and sentimental meaning, and hearing about the stories behind them made the experience feel even more personal. It truly felt like we had been welcomed into Bilal’s home. And I have to mention how CLEAN the restaurant was! Everything felt well cared for and maintained. The tables, dining area, and overall environment were clean and inviting, which made the experience even more comfortable. You could tell that cleanliness and presentation were important to Bilal. And then came the FOOD! 😋 We ordered the mixed platter, which allowed us to sample quite a bit of the menu. Everything was exceptional. The rice was perfectly cooked — flavorful, properly prepared, and nothing like the dry, under-seasoned rice that some restaurants serve. The meat was tender, moist, flavorful, and high quality, without being overloaded with fat or heavy seasoning that masks the natural taste of the meat. But the tabouli was one of my favorites. I’ve had tabouli at many restaurants, and Bilal’s version stood out to me because of the generous amount of freshly chopped parsley. It was fresh, vibrant, and delicious. And the hummus! I honestly don’t think I’ve ever tasted hummus quite that creamy. It was absolutely delicious. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying dessert, so we took some to go. It was delicious — and I have to admit, I almost felt bad eating the single almond on top because it looked so perfect! 😂 The dessert was also soft and easy to eat, which was especially nice for my father since he is currently missing his front teeth. Interestingly, he actually lost those teeth at another restaurant, and despite several dental appointments, they were never successfully replaced. Eventually, fixing them became less of a priority. His dentist still encourages him to go back, especially since he already paid for the work, but I understand my father’s perspective. At this stage of my own life, I’ve come to realize that time is the most valuable thing we have. Spending hours at a dentist or hair salon simply isn’t always where I want to invest that precious time either. Life is too short, and sometimes comfort, good food, meaningful conversations, and enjoying the people we love matter more. That is exactly what made our visit to Shish Taouk so special. Bilal didn’t just serve us food — he welcomed us, shared his story, cared about my father’s comfort, maintained a clean and inviting space, and made us feel at home. Thank you, Bilal, for the hospitality, the conversation, the history, and of course, the incredible food. We are so happy we stopped in, and we look forward to coming back! 👏❤️
• KS

  Katie Sissons

  Sep 19, 2026
  5.0
  Amazing food and service! The falafel is great, and the owner is absolutely amazing. Eat here once and you're bound to be back!

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