International Market and Grill-Persian Kebabs

mmm-yoso is being played by Cathy today.  Kirk is elsewhere.

Hi.  I met a friend for lunch the other day, we talked a lot and I did not take my camera.  She knew I liked trying different types of food and She likes it here.  Its close to UCSD, was great Persian food, in a small mall area, run by a husband and wife.    So, I went back with The Mister on Saturday.

International Market and Grill.  There is that one table out front; there are two more inside and a bar seating area also with a total of 6 bar stools.  They seem to do a brisk phone in - take out business on weekdays, and actually on the weekend also.

The menu is fairly simple.  You can get a kebab in a lavash bread sandwich, or on a plate or with a salad.

There are 4 types of kebabs: Chicken, Beef Filet (marinated top sirloin), Fish and House (seasoned ground sirloin, ground fresh daily).  There is a Garden, Greek or Caesar salad.   The plates come with basmati rice and salad.  For $1 more you can get herbed rice, which I like a bit better, but was not available on this Saturday's visit. I got the vegetarian plate (salad and rice and a pita).  ($5.45).

The basmati rice is so aromatic and light, with a dollop of olive oil on top.   The salad is mostly romaine, with onions, tomatoes, cabbage, feta and two Bar-B-Qued tomato wedges.  It has an olive oil/vinegar/herb dressing and is also served with Must-O-Khair (yogurt, cucumber and herb dip; I tasted mint more than any other herb, it was quite refreshing). 

The Mister got the Greek Salad ($5.95) with a House kebab for an additional $2.75.  The salad is the same, but larger, with no grilled tomatoes but has more fresh tomatoes, feta and onions and also olives.  The kebab, with the ground sirloin and grilled, is very moist and flavorful with herbs.

If you look at the menu there are daily specials Monday through Friday for $9.95 each.  They are not ready for purchase until about 1 p.m. each day and are limited in quantity.  My friend says she will come here for lunch and then order a plate of the special "to go" and they are excellent.  I want to try all five, actually.  I will, you know....

I also ordered two glasses of hot tea ($1.50), freshly brewed and nice and strong. The owner said we could have a free refill. 

Afterward, The Mister saw this storefront, two doors down, and walked inside while I went to the car.

Well, with a name like "Tiramisu"... you know, they had to have something sweet.

It's just a fresh made cream puff  shell with fresh made custard and fresh made whipped cream...and the nice lady even put a fork in there. All for $2.50 and well worth it. 

International Market and Grill 3211 Holiday Court, Suite 100 La Jolla 92037

(858)535-9700 M-F 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

   

Comments

[Ted]

I ate here once. I thought it was good but nothing extraordinary.

What makes the place special, however, is that they carry Mashti Malone's ice cream! I think they only carry the rose saffron flavor, but nevertheless it is quite delicious.

[Cathy]

I saw the rose ice cream, Ted...but you know...with the weather lately (the leaves on one of my 4 foot tall jade plants fell to the ground, sounding like broken glass, the other morning)....I am going to try the daily specials just to see if there is a standout...the pomegranate chicken has me intrigued.

[CharSiuBao]

oo.. they carry mashti malone's? now i don't have to trek up to LA to find it.

[cathy]

Ok, CSB and Ted, I gotta go back and buy some now...despite the temperature...

[Michelle]

Is Yummy Maki still next door? We used to go there all the time for sushi when we lived in San Diego.

[cathy]

Yes it is, Michelle...right between International and Tiramisu. I will blog about it soon....

[Chubbypanda]

I love Persian food unless they overdo the lemon. Some places, that's all you can taste.

[cathy]

Hi CP- no lemon overload here; its good home cooking...even the stews/daily specials I have tried all have just a touch, if not too little, acidity.