Fatima's Grill — Restaurant in Garden Grove

Caught between writing this review or letting it go, I’ve decided honesty deserves a voice. My friend and I approached Fatima’s Grill with high hopes, enticed by the bold welcome sign and colorful menu imagery. But as the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving.

We both ordered the Beef Shawarma Platter, expecting a burst of Mediterranean flavors. Unfortunately, the first red flag should have been the near-empty dining area during what should have been a bustling lunch hour—just two diners besides us.

The beef lacked depth and vibrancy, tasting reheated rather than freshly cooked. It left the impression that it may have been a leftover from the previous day. The accompanying salad didn’t fare much better; it was uninspired and bland, failing to bring any brightness to the dish. The hummus, while serviceable, was disappointingly ordinary and offered none of the creamy, tangy punch you’d expect. The pita bread was perhaps the biggest letdown—dry and uninspired, easily outdone by most grocery store options.

Adding to the underwhelming experience was the service. The cashier’s demeanor suggested she’d rather be anywhere else. Her lack of warmth left us feeling more like a burden than a guest, which only added to our disappointment.

Fatima’s Grill had all the potential to impress—welcoming messaging, diverse menu offerings, and a strong visual identity—but it fell flat where it mattered most: the food and service. While I truly wanted to root for this place, I can’t ignore the lackluster...

I’ve been following Fatima’s Grill on social media for a while, so I was really looking forward to finally trying it during my birthday trip to Anaheim. Unfortunately, this location didn’t live up to the hype. Honestly, I wish I had gone to the Downey spot instead.

From the moment we walked in, the experience was off. A cook was standing at the counter chatting with a friend and didn’t acknowledge us at all, not even a “hey.” It made for an awkward and uncomfortable first impression because they just kind of stared at us on and off. Thankfully, a woman eventually came out to help us, and she was kind and helpful, which improved the situation a bit.

As for the food: the asada crunch wrap with Hot Cheetos was actually pretty good. But the Hot Cheeto balls were a big letdown. They didn’t look anything like what’s advertised on their Instagram…no toppings, overcooked on the outside, and the meat inside was dry. I was especially excited to try those based on the videos I’d seen, but they were nothing like what’s shown online.

Overall, this visit felt like a classic case of social media hype not matching reality. It seems influencers get amazing service and food, and the peasants like us get ignored and receive dry, crappy food. If you’re going because of what you’ve seen online, just be aware that this location is not going to deliver the same level of food or service. Your money is paying for the influencers to get free royal treatment, while you get crumbs.

Worst...

After a long and exhausting week, my bf and I decided to treat ourselves on Friday night. We were craving something other than Asian foods. Found this Halal Mexican spot while Yelping, so we decided to try it out.

Parking: They’re located in a large plaza. Plenty of free parking and easy to find.

Ambiance/Environment: It’s a very casual spot. They have a large space with plenty of indoor seating and no outdoor seating. The music was lit. They have a restroom for customers.

Service: The cashier that assisted us was efficient and knowledgeable about the menu. Throughput did take a while. We received our food 13 minutes after ordering, but it was worth the wait!

What we ordered:

They’re popular for their Hot Cheetos burgers and fries, but other menu items caught our attention. Will have to come back to try it though!

1. Birria Quesadilla - They were very generous with the amount of meats, cheese, and flavor! I really enjoyed these! The consome was also flavorful and wasn’t too salty. This also came with tortilla chips and red & green sauce.

2. Cali Burrito w/ Chicken - My bf really liked his burrito! They really stuffed the burrito with a lot of chicken. The fries were good, and the guac was fresh. The only critique we had was to spread out the ingredients more bc the chicken were on one side of the burrito while the fries were on the other.

Pricing: A bit on the pricier end $$ for Mexican food, but we enjoyed everything. Portions are large and the flavors...