Darbari Persian Grill

Right across the street from Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square, Darbari serves competent but not especially distinctive Persian food in one of Newport Boulevard’s small, non-plaza buildings. We enjoyed their koobideh and kabobs, and appreciated the clean, friendly dining room, as well as table service, neither a lock these days.

Appetizers are generally in the $9 to $10 range, with most entrees now priced between $21 and $32, victims of ongoing inflation. Following the 2022 closure of nearby Kabob Republic, Darbari has become a solid choice, assuming you’re not interested in exploring Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options in Little Arabia.