Tarbosh Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in El Cajon

I was running errands in El Cajon around lunch time so I stopped by Tarbosh, a Syrian cuisine restaurant in the heart of El Cajon city. Restaurant was spacious with lot of tables a could host a lot of people and large groups. There were seats by the entrance and people were sitting there waiting for their food to go. Since I have not eaten Syrian food before, I asked a fellow customer for suggestion and she said to order the chicken shawarma combo and it would come with a sandwich. The whole bill came to $10.81 which was very budget friendly. So I ordered the recommended combo. While waiting, I walked around the restaurant. It has a bakery on site and lots of dessert available. Noted that most customers ordered food to go. There were only two small groups of people dining in. This restaurant should hire more help at the counter. One cashier was multitasking: taking walk-in orders,taking phone orders, packing the food boxes to go and answering floor customers questions and requests, fetching complimentary sodas for customers and checking with kitchen staff for status of orders. Poor cashier needs help. Also, kitchen should get more help to prepare food. It took nearly 45 minutes to get my food. After a long wait, I told the cashier I could not wait any longer. What irritated me the most was that people came after me got their food first. I was in fact the last person to get the food to go. One customer who was there earlier came back to the restaurant and when she saw me, she said you are still here. Cashier knew that I was not happy for the long wait but didn’t apologize but merely said they were very busy. I would have like an apology for the long wait and hope they do better to manage the lunch crowd. I will not go back to this restaurant simply it is unacceptable to wait 45 minutes for two sandwiches (wraps), pickled veggies and French fries. The food was okay but not exceptional to merit...

Their faces are friendly, however their service is poor.. and their food is worse. I went with a friend and had the greek yogurt with cucumber, two Chicken Shawarma meal, pineapple drink, fattoush, and some minty beverage they had.

The Chicken shawarma was all right however the fries it came with was loaded with salt. This should have been an option for extra salt.I don't think any of us ordered high blood pressure

The greek yogurt with cucumber was loaded with extra extra garlic. Not sure we ordered heavy garlic breath, digestive issues, with a side of heartburn.

Our drinks were ordered first thing before the food.. we got our beverages after we were done eating the horribly made food. Our drinks were also messed up. The minty beverage was straight up mint blended and served in a cup. the Pineapple beverage tasted like the 7/11 slushy with lemon squeezed in it, It was too sour.. it was supposed to be sweet.

After I spoke to one of the male servers about the food he said "the food is served that way because all of our customers like their food loaded with garlic and salt." He also admitted to me that he would not make the food that salty and garlicky at home because it was too much garlic and salt for even him to consume. He didn't charge us for the yogurt and he gave us a small discount of a few dollars.

Send an official food critic immediately before someone ends up in the hospital. Food Is too expensive/dangerous to consume, the service is poor, and I'm sorry for everyone who had to suffer at this...

I have to edit my previous review. The best time I have entered the restaurant. The Lebanese administration is much better or in other words the best. Ellie is a great guy. He is a very nice guy.

From the moment I walked into The Place, I knew I was in for something special. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between cozy and stylish, making it an ideal spot for everything from casual lunches to celebratory dinners. The décor is tastefully done, with thoughtful details that create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.

The food? Absolutely outstanding. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor — clearly crafted with care and high-quality ingredients. Whether you’re a fan of rich comfort food or lighter, health-conscious options, the menu offers something for everyone.

What truly sets The Place apart, though, is the staff. Warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, the team made us feel like valued guests from start to finish. They were knowledgeable about the menu, happy to make recommendations, and always nearby without being intrusive. That kind of service makes a big difference — and they absolutely nailed it.

I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending The Place to friends, family, and anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. Thank you for a...