hayat Kabob House — Restaurant in San Ramon

Let me start of by saying I drove about 6 hours to visit this restaurant because of all the good reviews on Google and cuz of what I saw on Instagram. I had already made a reservation 3 weeks in advance. Upon arrival to the restaurant we waited 10min for someone to come out, eventually someone comes out and says you need to wait for I'm assuming was the owner. We waited another 15min for the owner to come and seat us. We got seated but not for the booth that we reserved. I politely told the owner that we had reserved for a specific booth and he confirmed it over the phone at the time of the reservation. The man very rudely in from of my family told me "you can't have that booth because it's for a larger party so I can make more money" and than he says "if I set you up at the booth that you reserved for i would have to rush you guys while you eat" like why would you say that to a customer?? All while rolling his eyes and giving a death glare to everyone in my family. Very disappointed and frustrated with the guy. We had to get up and walk out because he wasn't giving us a chance to speak. Please learn how to politely communicate with your customers and learn some customer service skills. I don't now how this guys runs the place with that type of attitude..

----- Reply and Update, June 23,2024 --- Hi, I'm not sure why your lying and stating that you never spoke with me over the phone regarding a reservation.. I could post screen shots of my call log for proof but that's not necessary, you did confirm with me in person when we sat down the name and party size. Your horrible customer service skills is why we decided to leave, nothing was pleasant from the start. And to reply to what you said with your last reply "Your food was ready, and we were about to serve you when you decided to leave, resulting in the prepared food going to waste". Sir, how was our food ready when you barely took our orders and went inside to attend to another customer. We literally canceled the order within a minute of you going inside to attend to the other customer.. it's hard to believe that almost 5 plates could be done in 1 minute!. Unless your food is frozen and you just pre heat it. We did not feel comfortable eating at the restaurant after the way me and my family were treated and thats why we left. And you assuming that I'm lying really shows how horrible your customer service skills are. Im not sure how your a restaurant owner with zero communication skills. Please take your money and family elsewhere to eat. You can get better portions and a bigger menu at other afghan restaurants (they don't have koobideh Kabob on the menu). This place is not worth your...

Purely on a whim but a little on need I drove out to Blackhawk Plaza yesterday. I didn't know anything about this restaurant, I had only bookmarked it purely because of its cute name. Ha Ha!

I arrived 30 minutes before the kitchen closed at 8pm, inside the restaurant, there were 3 groups of customers all sitting at tables next to the windows. I ended up at a table next to a window too. It was perfect.

The menu is a simple front and back list of food items and I thought the prices were appropriate. I ended up ordering an old "standby", their version of the Black and Blue Salad, and a cup of hot tea.

The salad was only ok, I've had better. I wouldn't order it again and I wouldn't recommend it either. There wasn't a lot to the plate, lettuce, dressing, filet steak pieces, and topped with thinly battered onion rings. While there wasn't a lot to the plate, it did fill the craving I had and the atmosphere of this cute, quaint corner lot restaurant was exactly what I needed. I had brought some books I have been journalling in, since my mom passed away, this little restaurant and plaza and its ambiance was the space I needed to get some writing done.

The staff was great. And because the restaurant wasn't very full, service was quick and attentive. More than what I needed. Also, since I had arrived so late I ended up staying past their closing time of 8pm. Thankful the staff was ok with me staying after they closed.

There is a little patio to the right side of The Little Pear, that overlooks the lake. The patio is not huge but it appeared that it could fit quite a few customers, comfortably. The tables have umbrella's and there are heat lamps for the cooler evenings. I wanted to sit on the patio but the evening air was just too cold for me. Possibly another time. They also have a small bar area inside, with a TV. Like I said, it's small and quaint.

In the evening the Plaza has white lights strung across the lake, it's fun. I tried to capture the essence and feel of the white lights in the plaza reflecting off the water. It makes the atmosphere a little festive, and definitely summery.

The Little Pear is located in Blackhawk Plaza across from the Automotive Museum, it's cute, quaint and a corner lot, and it sits along the perimeter of the lake that's in the middle of the plaza. It's not warm and cozy inside so remember to bring a jacket if it's on a cooler evening. I think they could do a bit more with the decor, especially with the indoor...

Hayat Kabab House is truly a hidden gem! The food was out of this world – every single dish was bursting with rich aromas and packed with flavor. The chicken kabab, chapli, and lamb shank were tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, filling the air with the smell of warm spices as they arrived at the table. The Qabuli Palao Rice was fragrant and layered with flavor, easily one of the most delicious and comforting rice dishes I’ve ever had. We ordered a variety of appetizers – three types of bolani (pumpkin, potato, and leek), garbanzo, and eggplant – and each one had its own unique aroma and texture, from crispy to juicy. Their house special rose lemonade was light, refreshing, and perfumed with delicate floral notes, and to top it off, they even treated us to hot, soothing tea on the house.

We came for a girls’ night with seven of us and sat at the Afghani floor table by the water. The setup was absolutely gorgeous – soft lighting, the sound of water trickling from the nearby waterfall, the ducks quacking and the warm scent of freshly grilled kababs drifting through the air made it feel magical and transportive. The staff went above and beyond – the owners are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. You can tell how hard they are working the minute you walk in, and their passion shows in every detail. They kept checking on us, explaining dishes, and offering recommendations. They even let us order family style, and the platters arrived like a colorful feast, beautifully presented and almost too pretty to eat.

The restaurant itself is spotless, cozy, and so charming, with an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to linger. The prices are very reasonable for both the quality of food and the area we live in, which makes it an even bigger win. Honestly, we couldn’t stop eating – every bite was better than the last – and now all of us want to come back with our families. I would return here in a heartbeat.

Between the mouthwatering food, the incredible hospitality, the inviting aromas, and the gorgeous ambiance, Hayat Kabab House is a true treasure....