I've been to this restaurant several times. The first time was great, the second time not great (lamb was tough and impossible to chew) and this time two major disappointments made me want to share my experience on Yelp. This restaurant has a sign posted on the menu on the wall that says if you pay cash you will get a discount, so I paid cash. They first give you a 3.5% "cash discount" but then at the end they charge you a 4% credit card surcharge even though you didn't use a credit card! Photo attached. I brought it to their attention that this is not right to false advertise about a discount, implying that the customer is getting a better price than what is reflected on the menu, and then charge a credit card fee at the end where there was no credit card used. They said this is how our system is setup. Well why wouldn't you then give a 5 or more percent discount so that once your system charges that credit card fee for a cash payment, the final amount would include a discount instead of the hidden overcharge you are currently enjoying? The money itself was not a big deal at all. If they had offered to give it back I would have just added it to the tip I had already put in their tip jar, but they didn't and the practice is dishonest. Both the chef guy (is he the owner?) and the girl at the register reviewed the receipt more than once but didn't offer to pay the credit card charge back. The girl said she will ask her manager but there was no manager in sight. The majority of people don't ask for a receipt to see this and so I felt it was necessary to share the information with whoever wants to know. Dishonest = not cool. 2) When I placed the order they said they had run out of salad material (it was before noon!) and asked me to order a plate instead but when I went to pick up my order they had prepared the same salad I had been refused for someone else with an order number after mine. I was refused the salad as an option before I paid, so I know it had nothing to do with the payment disagreement, but the experience of seeing the salad being available to someone else was disappointing nevertheless. The chicken shwarma was salty and oily but likely would have been nice on the salad if I could have had that option!
Doctor G.
Came by one evening for take out. Service was quick and my lamb rice bowl was tasty. Next time, I must try their gyro plate. Because I came by in the evening after the dinner rush, I got lucky and found a parking space on the street nearby.
Richard Lossing
Good food and fast service.Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options.Parking: Metered street parking.
Doris G.
Don't let the austere surroundings scare you off. A hidden gem with delicious food. Popped in here for a quick take out to go home. Ordered the kofta (ground lamb mixed spices) kebab plate with fries. The 3 large Kofta were perfectly seasoned and cooked and not dry. The plate came with a very fresh salad and hummus and pita. A fun assortment. The lamb rice bowl was generous with lots of delicious lamb meat. Everything was delicious and well seasoned.
Tori
The taste of the food depends on who is preparing it. The last two times I've got the eggplant wrap they have been disgusting and the presentation is completely lacking. It's a shame because when I first ordered it, it was delicious. Props to the young cashier and cook he is great, but the other older cooks need some work. Won't be returning.
Mito I.
Quick Summary: - Flavorful and juicy chicken - Filling portions, one plate is enough for one person Today, the family was walking around the northern side of Berkley and eating foods here and there. Our stomachs were not full yet, so we were still able to eat a good large dinner plate of food, so my relative suggested eating at D'yar. It is their favorite place to eat and often go there for lunch. After we agreed, they went and ordered the chicken shawarma plate, and we took it outside to eat at a benches in the gourmet seating area. The tray contains three dividers, and the largest had the chicken and the rice. The other two contained salad and hummus. On top was a small container filled with yogurt, and three slices of pita bread. I have tried a couple of Mediterranean dishes in the city, and I can confidently say that this chicken was the best one I have ever tasted. There is a toasty good grill flavor in each chicken piece. The meat is also juicy and soft too, so there was no dryness. The skin portion crispy like chips.
Amira E.
Dyar is a hidden gem in the north side of Berkeley. This place serves high quality food at an incredibly fast past. The food is delicious and the staff is super friendly. I had the lamb kebab with French fries. The meat was so tender and the hummus was one of the most authentic I've tasted in the bay. Overall, Highly recommend if your just trying to grab a quick lunch in Berkeley or simply taste the authentic flavors of the Middle East.
Sal Torres (Salvadoski)
Super nice people, the best local food and good prices. Love this spot
S K
Don’t go here if you have somewhere to be- they took 25 min to make a salad to go
Hiba Y.
We used to order here a lot and the food was great. We haven't ordered in about a year or so. We ordered our favorite plate yesterday: the Chicken Shawarma Snack (description from the menu: Roasted chicken with creamy garlic sauce, onion, and pickles. Served with a side of fries). I'm not sure what happened, but the sandwich didn't have any garlic sauce or onions, just chicken. The bread was soaked in oil, it's like they made the sandwich and then dipped it in oil. The fries were ok, but didn't have any salt (so essentially tasteless). The sandwich itself was much smaller than usual, but I would have been ok with that if it was made properly. The meal was extremely disappointing to say the least. The usual employees we were used to seeing weren't there. I'm not sure if that means that management changed or what. But if your employees didn't read the menu they're supposed to be serving, you have a huge problem.
What happened to this restaurant? It used to be a reasonable place to go with quality food before a show or athletic event at the University. Now the portions are about half and the prices are going up and they scream at customers. I saw a couple with a disabled child who had to use the restroom and the employee screamed at them. I ordered by usual and realized that the quality has gone down dramatically. I think I now know why they don't want anyone using their restroom as you will walk into their kitchen and realize how horridly disgusting it is and how they handle their food preparation. They put their food in boxes on the ground and the ground is soaking wet looking like it has not been cleaned in a long time. Covid is not an excuse anymore as this part of Berkeley is thriving because the campus is now alive again. They have simply chosen to offer a far inferior product and their attitude toward customers has dramatically changed. I have been going there for years and a year's past an older gentleman who prepared each dish with the pride of a one star michelin chef is no longer there and now they give you barely an appetizer portion and charge you full price. I will return to Berkeley many more times but I will not return to this restaurant.
Murti Nauth
Delicious and reasonably priced!
Ayush N.
Food was pretty great I think I got shawarma and it tasted great. Sometimes Mediterranean food leaves a weird and bad aftertaste, but this food didn't so I actually really liked it.
David Gardner
This is probably the place I go to the most for lunch near campus for veg options. Go for the falafel deluxe!
I've been to this restaurant several times. The first time was great, the second time not great (lamb was tough and impossible to chew) and this time two major disappointments made me want to share my experience on Yelp. This restaurant has a sign posted on the menu on the wall that says if you pay cash you will get a discount, so I paid cash. They first give you a 3.5% "cash discount" but then at the end they charge you a 4% credit card surcharge even though you didn't use a credit card! Photo attached. I brought it to their attention that this is not right to false advertise about a discount, implying that the customer is getting a better price than what is reflected on the menu, and then charge a credit card fee at the end where there was no credit card used. They said this is how our system is setup. Well why wouldn't you then give a 5 or more percent discount so that once your system charges that credit card fee for a cash payment, the final amount would include a discount instead of the hidden overcharge you are currently enjoying? The money itself was not a big deal at all. If they had offered to give it back I would have just added it to the tip I had already put in their tip jar, but they didn't and the practice is dishonest. Both the chef guy (is he the owner?) and the girl at the register reviewed the receipt more than once but didn't offer to pay the credit card charge back. The girl said she will ask her manager but there was no manager in sight. The majority of people don't ask for a receipt to see this and so I felt it was necessary to share the information with whoever wants to know. Dishonest = not cool. 2) When I placed the order they said they had run out of salad material (it was before noon!) and asked me to order a plate instead but when I went to pick up my order they had prepared the same salad I had been refused for someone else with an order number after mine. I was refused the salad as an option before I paid, so I know it had nothing to do with the payment disagreement, but the experience of seeing the salad being available to someone else was disappointing nevertheless. The chicken shwarma was salty and oily but likely would have been nice on the salad if I could have had that option!
Came by one evening for take out. Service was quick and my lamb rice bowl was tasty. Next time, I must try their gyro plate. Because I came by in the evening after the dinner rush, I got lucky and found a parking space on the street nearby.
Good food and fast service.Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options.Parking: Metered street parking.
Don't let the austere surroundings scare you off. A hidden gem with delicious food. Popped in here for a quick take out to go home. Ordered the kofta (ground lamb mixed spices) kebab plate with fries. The 3 large Kofta were perfectly seasoned and cooked and not dry. The plate came with a very fresh salad and hummus and pita. A fun assortment. The lamb rice bowl was generous with lots of delicious lamb meat. Everything was delicious and well seasoned.
The taste of the food depends on who is preparing it. The last two times I've got the eggplant wrap they have been disgusting and the presentation is completely lacking. It's a shame because when I first ordered it, it was delicious. Props to the young cashier and cook he is great, but the other older cooks need some work. Won't be returning.
Quick Summary: - Flavorful and juicy chicken - Filling portions, one plate is enough for one person Today, the family was walking around the northern side of Berkley and eating foods here and there. Our stomachs were not full yet, so we were still able to eat a good large dinner plate of food, so my relative suggested eating at D'yar. It is their favorite place to eat and often go there for lunch. After we agreed, they went and ordered the chicken shawarma plate, and we took it outside to eat at a benches in the gourmet seating area. The tray contains three dividers, and the largest had the chicken and the rice. The other two contained salad and hummus. On top was a small container filled with yogurt, and three slices of pita bread. I have tried a couple of Mediterranean dishes in the city, and I can confidently say that this chicken was the best one I have ever tasted. There is a toasty good grill flavor in each chicken piece. The meat is also juicy and soft too, so there was no dryness. The skin portion crispy like chips.
Dyar is a hidden gem in the north side of Berkeley. This place serves high quality food at an incredibly fast past. The food is delicious and the staff is super friendly. I had the lamb kebab with French fries. The meat was so tender and the hummus was one of the most authentic I've tasted in the bay. Overall, Highly recommend if your just trying to grab a quick lunch in Berkeley or simply taste the authentic flavors of the Middle East.
Super nice people, the best local food and good prices. Love this spot
Don’t go here if you have somewhere to be- they took 25 min to make a salad to go
We used to order here a lot and the food was great. We haven't ordered in about a year or so. We ordered our favorite plate yesterday: the Chicken Shawarma Snack (description from the menu: Roasted chicken with creamy garlic sauce, onion, and pickles. Served with a side of fries). I'm not sure what happened, but the sandwich didn't have any garlic sauce or onions, just chicken. The bread was soaked in oil, it's like they made the sandwich and then dipped it in oil. The fries were ok, but didn't have any salt (so essentially tasteless). The sandwich itself was much smaller than usual, but I would have been ok with that if it was made properly. The meal was extremely disappointing to say the least. The usual employees we were used to seeing weren't there. I'm not sure if that means that management changed or what. But if your employees didn't read the menu they're supposed to be serving, you have a huge problem.
Restaurantji Recommends
What happened to this restaurant? It used to be a reasonable place to go with quality food before a show or athletic event at the University. Now the portions are about half and the prices are going up and they scream at customers. I saw a couple with a disabled child who had to use the restroom and the employee screamed at them. I ordered by usual and realized that the quality has gone down dramatically. I think I now know why they don't want anyone using their restroom as you will walk into their kitchen and realize how horridly disgusting it is and how they handle their food preparation. They put their food in boxes on the ground and the ground is soaking wet looking like it has not been cleaned in a long time. Covid is not an excuse anymore as this part of Berkeley is thriving because the campus is now alive again. They have simply chosen to offer a far inferior product and their attitude toward customers has dramatically changed. I have been going there for years and a year's past an older gentleman who prepared each dish with the pride of a one star michelin chef is no longer there and now they give you barely an appetizer portion and charge you full price. I will return to Berkeley many more times but I will not return to this restaurant.
Delicious and reasonably priced!
Food was pretty great I think I got shawarma and it tasted great. Sometimes Mediterranean food leaves a weird and bad aftertaste, but this food didn't so I actually really liked it.
This is probably the place I go to the most for lunch near campus for veg options. Go for the falafel deluxe!
pretty cool