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5-6pm, 7 days/week, enjoy a succulent 3 course dinner @ $20/person. Mention Yelp upon arrival.
Thank you Yelpers and Happy holidays!
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This is an amazing restaurant! And unless you knew to look for it, you'd probably walk right by it (it's below street level with an unassuming building front). AND, if you did see the entrance, there's no way you could predict how perfect the ambiance and food is!
I made a reservation online for a Friday evening and brought my girlfriend here. Don't think I needed the reservation, but peace of mind and not waiting is always welcome. We were seated in a corner (perfect for close intimate discussions with a date!) and the dim lighting, decor, and movie playing in the background (Casablanca) made for a romantic dinner.
I had never had Moroccan food before, but have had lamb prepared by other cultures (Afghan, Persian, etc), and this was hands-down the best lamb I have ever had! The Lamb Shank Tagine was so tender and succulent and the sauce was indescribable (or, if you prefer, it is "Ras el hanout" and honey sauce, caramelized dry fruit, toasted almonds and Sesame seeds).
The service was fast but not intrusive, the food was excellent, the ambiance was quite romantic, and the price was surprisingly rather affordable!
After reading all the reviews and hearing good stuff from friends I was excited to go here for my 25th birthday dinner - sadly, I was underwhelmed by their service and dishes.
I went with 3 other friends and we all ordered something different in addition to our appetizer (the B'stila sampler - which was too dry for my liking). The lamb dishes I tried (Lamb Shank Tangine and Lamb Tanjia) were very chewy. Neither dishes were as tender and juicy as I imaged it would be after being braised and cooked for hours. My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon skewer which was great. Hot and tasty. The ahi tuna brochette and ginger garlic mashed potatoes I had though was the best dish at the table. Although, the tuna was still a lil cold in the center.
The hostess was really warm and welcoming but our server never checked on us.
Overall, the atmosphere was real cute and some of the dishes were good, but I think overpriced for what you get.
As most can attest, eating foods or cuisines from other regions or countries can be a bold choice for dinner with friends with different interpretations on service, food and ambiance. For our friend's upcoming trip to Morocco, we thought we would eat some Moroccan food and then go home and watch Casablanca. True, Casablance was filmed in a studio but its so nice to see Ingrid Bergman as the woman, the kid beloved by both a rogue and a partisan hero.
I made reservations at Open Table so I can accumulate those points I never use...And arrived to a relatively quiet restaurant at around 6:30 pm. Lucky for us because about 1 hour later, a large group came in with small children. I think its safe to say, those kids will be eating a lot of grilled items on a stick.
The host was gracious and our round table (much better for conversation among three people) provided a good start. The waitress asked us if we have eaten Moroccan cuisine before and both my partner and I said no. Although the menu seems ready to order from, we wanted to know how knowledgeable our server was for the evening. She also gave us the specials and about 30 dollar prix fixe menu similar to their Restaurant week Special. Despite our hunger, we decided on ordering a la carte.
Starter - Pitcher of Sangria and Vegetable Sampler
Instead of bread, you are given some to start some cut carrots spiced up along with kalamata olives. Both are a good way to begin with each of us trying to identify spices in the carrots.
Orders - Beef Tagine, Lamb Tanjia and Stuffed Pepper Tagine.
Tagines are those teppee/tent like pots that you normally see in cooking shows when they talk about Moroccan cooking. Most food are slow cooked on these pots, some as long as 10 hrs as mentioned about the Tanjia.
The vegetarian sampler included, grilled pita bread along with caramelized carrots, roasted eggplant and roasted tomato and bell pepper... this was another new flavor for some of us. Very nice. We also ordered the Harira soup which came with fresh dates (sweet) to eat after the soup has been relished. The waitress knew we were all tasting it so she brought three spoons with a date on each. It was a nice warm lentil soup to start without too much spice.
After the main entrees were served, we were asked if we needed the moroccan hot sauce (okay its really just hot sauce) and we said yes. The sauce proved to be really nice addition to the dishes when needed. The entree came with either garlic mashed potatoes or couscous (grain like rice but smaller).
All three entrees were really filling. And the leftover stuffed pepper tagine was brought home to be enjoyed for lunch today.
Overall, among the group, we found it satisfactory, our friend said he will take us to another restaurant when he returns that serves Persian food for comparison. He rates it a 3 while I give it a 4 since I know that this is for all those readers who want to know if its worth it. My friend viewed it as a friendly homestyle food (I mentioned that this was a bistro and not a high end restaurant and considering we were at the basement of the building or for those who live down on the lower depths sometimes refer to as similar to a garden apt.
I recommend it for first timers to Moroccan cuisine. Enough choices for you and the kiddies (with grilled shrimp and beef brochettes - no pork since this is Morocco (primarily a Muslim country)). Enjoy and imagine yourself in your neighbor's house eating their finest food except that neighbor is in Morocco not San Diego.
Came here for dinner after spending a couple hours at the zoo. I'm not too familiar with Moroccan food but I guess I should familiarize myself with it since I'll be visiting Morocco in November.
We were seated right away, the ambiance inside was very dark and exotic. I can imagine many dates brewing up in here. The waiter was very friendly. We mentioned that none of us really had Moroccan food so then he started to describe their most popular dishes which were the different tagines that are all slow cooked.
Zaalouk eggplant flavored with cumin, olive oil and lemon preserve served with pita bread - http://static.px.yelp.... The flavor was really good, the pita bread was very soft and warm. My only complaint was that they could have served more pita bread.
Beef tagine with cous cous - http://static.px.yelp.... This was my dish and it was great, I didn't care for the olives so I just picked them out. The cous cous was light and fluffy. The stewed veggies on top of the cous cous
Chicken tagine with garlic mashed potatoes - http://static.px.yelp.... Chicken was very moist and the garlic mash potatoes were delicious.
Lamb shank tagine with cous cous - http://static.px.yelp.... I'm not a huge lamb fan but this was so tender and didn't have a gamey flavor to it. The honey sauce was a nice touch that wasn't too sweet.
For dessert we had the Moroccan "creme brulee" http://static.px.yelp.... The dates and almonds were a nice touch to the creaminess of the custard. It also had nice hints of rosewater and cinnamon.
The total for our meal came about to be about $90 with one beer and including tax and tip, so it wasn't too bad for the portions of our dishes. I wouldn't mind coming back here after my trip to Morocco so that I can compare it with the real deal!
I love food.
I love knowledgeable and prompt service.
I love validated parking.
Therefore...I love this restaurant.
What I do NOT love, is other eaters who can not appreciate such a great experience that are within ear shot.
I bring you, "Ruin your date" guy.
"Ruin your date guy" and girl were sitting to the table adjacent to our secluded section of bliss. As man friend and I are indulging in decadent dish after dish, all for only 30 dollars thanks to restaurant week, we keep on hearing the oddest commentary.
"Veggie platter.... hmmmm... should we get the veggie platter.... oh I dont know, the veggie platter sounds good.. lets split it..."
This conversation continued as such and was so repetitive, mundane, and absurd that I actually looked up from my food to wonder.
Not deterred, ruin your date guy's waitress was as knowledgeable, friendly, and sweet as our waiter, Jyan.
"Ruin your date" guy promptly asked to speak to the manager because sweet waitress girl would not waive a split plate fee.
** Attention yelpers, I hope that I am not alone when I say that as a diner, when I go out to eat, I DO expect to be spending some money, needless to say, on a date.
To ARGUE about a 3 dollar split plate fee that is SO STANDARD in so many restaurants to such an extent that you would make the waitress grab her MANAGER, is just ridiculous.
...Back to my story, Mr. Manager turned out to be the sweet man that had earlier on personally greeted patrons as they entered the door and sat them. When the manager explained to "Ruin your date" guy that he would not waive the split plate fee, this man stated, "If you don't waive the fee, I will give you a one star on yelp and write a bad review".
San Diego, what the F*ck?
That is just so embarrassing to even REPEAT.
I think it is so lame to honestly threaten a business with a bad review if they don't waive your fee for the benefit of your own pocket.
And to "Ruin your date guy" You should be ASHAMED of yourself and your shiteous one star review.
Anywho, funnily enough Mr. Manager said, No..... and "Ruin your date" guy with the greatest speed I had ever witnessed before, Jumped up and RAN out of the restaurant with his poor date in tow.
After Mr. Manager apologized for the "show" I enjoyed the rest of my ever so lovely meal in my blissfully deserted section of the restaurant.
If I could give this place six stars, I would for the service and management alone.
The food could be placed on another scale of wonderfulness.
My boyfriend and I went to Kous Kous this past weekend with some of our friends. It was a good experience for our first time eating here.
I got the Lamb shank tagine, and my boyfriend got the Halibut and shrimp seafood special, which comes with sea bass and shrimp served with kous kous rice over this yummy tomato sauce! They both were delicious!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMM!!!
I think the best dish was Lamb shank tagine. I am so glad I ordered that. I wasn't too crazy about their kabobs..I think it's kind of a rip for that price. For the price of the two kabobs you get, you are better off ordering tagines instead. Overall, good service. Great food. Good times...Will def come back here again soon!!!! =)
This is hands down the best Moroccan food in California. My boyfriend is from Morocco and I went to Morocco 3 months ago. The food here is VERY authentic. To make it even better, the owner is extremely friendly and always remembers us and takes time to say hello, ensure the food is good etc. The place has a very warm and fuzzy feeling especially with the addition of a lamb tagine.
I recommend this place to any guests that come in town that want something new and exciting but not too different that its a hit or miss if they like the flavors.
great food, great atmosphere. I also love the fact the the owner/chef takes pride in is restaurant and will come out to see how your meal is. You can also get your parking validated if you park in the garage, a plus since parking can get scarce in the area.
Mmmh....lamb shank!
Gaining a little knowledge about traditional foods is always fun.
My husband and I went there last Saturday night. The restaurant did not look too busy, but we were told it would be 30-40 min wait. In fact, a bunch of smart people showed up with reservation after we sat on the couch to wait.
While waiting and looking at the menu, I realized that was my first Moroccan resutaurant visit. I had no idea what they serve. There are some Moroccan related books including a cooking book on the table at the waiting area. So, actually I enjoyed the wait by looking at the menu and the Moroccan cooking book.
So, what's Tagine? Tangine is slow-cooked dish (like stews?)...so, meat and veggies get really tender.
After 40 min. wait just as the staff said, we were led to the very inside just next to diving curtain in which we felt more private than the other area.
First we got the vegetarian appetizer sampler which includes pieces of fresh pita bread and 3 traditional (I guess) vegetarian tapas. The 3 things look like a dip for pita but thicker and flavorable. I thought all of them were quite tasty and the pita was very fresh. Also, I got vegetarian stuffed tomato Tagine with Kous Kous, and my husband got beef Tagine with garlic mashed potato, all of which are really good and not too spicy. (Moroccan spicy sauce is available upon your request.)
Also, my husband who does not eat pork was very happy about their food options (they don't serve pork). There are chicken, beef, lamb Tagine dishes, seafood and good vegetarian dishes.
Next time, we will probably make a reservation beforehand....
OMG their food is amazing! Everything has unique and wonderful flavor -- this isn't a fusion or other hype, it simply IS and stands on its own merits.
If you've read my reviews, you'll know that I DON'T do grownup food. Unh-uh, no way. I'm a fussy eater and like a 12 year old. I like my burgers with cheese n ketchup. And I like grilled cheese, no croque monsieur or havarti quiches here!
Their chicken Tagine is incredible. I like EVERY bite on the plate. I don't ever eat everything on my plate. Too much wierdo creepy woo-woo healthy crap at most places. Here? Tender chicken, a pile of lemon-y sauce, cous cous, green beans with peas. AND MORE THAN $18 WORTH OF FLAVOR!
Oh, did I mention the TENDER chicken? You don't need a knife! Put fork in and a twist leaves a steamy morsel of mouth watery protein on its way to your mouth.
Like other reviewers say, their restaurant has a wonderful mood. I love to come here when I've had a crappy day and/or a headache. There's gentle music playing and soft lighting. The beers are choice varieties and only $4.50 a bottle. They also comp your parking at the ACE lot in their building.
If you eat out and like great flavor at a fair price, you are doing yourself a disservice until you eat here.
The best meal I have had in ages!
Everything was superb! We tried the Taste of San Diego fixed price menu and we're glad we did.
The food was rich and flavorful! I loved how the spices danced around the mouth! The Lamb Shank Tagine was phenomenal! It was so moist and tender the meat fell off the bone!
The appetizers were so good...Essaouira B'stila! Try it! Crispy, Tasty!
The setting was dark and very romantic. The lanterns hanging from the ceiling set the mood!
The atmosphere was fun and friendly. The waitress was the nicest person you could ask for! She had excellent recommendations for pairing wine with the entrees.
All in all, the total dining experience at Kous Kous was the best around.
Food was tasty, ambiance was welcoming, staff was very helpful. Place is a little difficult to find but once inside you'll appreciate the location; at least I did.
As a first time Morrocan eater, the staff assisted in explaining the menu items. I had the Chicken Tangine which was tasty, would have given one more star had the service been quicker and more attentive.
Enjoy.
Would definitely go back and highly recommend for those looking for a great ethnic meal.
I very recently met an amazing girl, and wanted to take her to someplace special for our first date, planned to be a few days away. I met Moumen, the owner of Kous Kous, the night before at a friend's restaurant anniversary party, and as he described his Moroccan restaurant, it sounded superb, so I was excited to try it as soon as possible; dinner with an amazing girl at a superb restaurant sounded heavenly. It all just clicked together, like it was meant to be.
Long story short, it was a nice surprise when we moved the dinner up a few days, because when meeting Moumen, friends had all decided to meet for dinner on the same night as my planned first date night, and were talking about how they'd not sit with us, but would just tease and heckle us from afar. Great... ;-)
As fate would have it, the next day the lovely lady was available for dinner, and we had a wonderful meal, some of the best food I've ever tasted, superb wine, and yes, a heavenly first date. Not that I was happy about not seeing my friends, but I appreciated having such a picturesque romantic meal together - the heckling can be saved for another time.
I'm not sure we'll have the second date there, even with the anticipation of heckling from friends, but I do hope there are many more dates to come, and we'll definitely be back - we've already picked out the most comfortable, cushiony corner and claimed it.
Thanks Yelpers! We went here based on all your reviews! It was awesome! We ordered the dinner for 2 at $30 a person and it was perfect ! We walked out stuffed! We loved all of the food! I highly recommend Kous Kous and the moroccan red wines! I made my reservation online at Kous Kous' main website and had no problems! Thanks to the owner, our server Katie and the chef at Kous Kous for making our date night memorable!
FREE PARKING: is next door at the medical center, park, walk downstairs to Kous Kous, tell them you need a validation ticket and take it back to the slot machine for free parking!
This has to be without a doubt one of the best places to eat Moroccan food.
Let me give you the rundown as other Yelpers have already given their input.
Service - Incredible!
Mint Tea - AMAZING! Must Order!
Seafood Special - MUST HAVE!
Lentil Soup - Phenomenal!
Veggie Platter (for apps) - Incredible
Chicken Kabobs - Very tasteful and highly recommended!
Need I say more? Go and enjoy!
The inside of the restaurant is decorated very nice and relaxing: Low lighting, candles on the walls and tables, tapestry on the walls and ceilings, and relaxing music playing. Big fan of the decor!
Our server was very nice and helpful. He'd asked if we'd been to the restaurant before or if we were familiar with Moroccan food. We were fairly new to both. He explained all the dishes, there is really only 6 options from the slow-cooked (Tagine) section and 6 from the grilled kabob (Brochettes) section. I went with the Chicken Tagine, he went with the Beef Tagine. We decided on no appetizers since the meal was going to be pretty large, although I really wanted to try the Shak-Shouka small plate, maybe next time. We each had a glass of Sangria, which was really good and strong!
Before dinner, they bring out a small plate with marinated olives and carrots. Both were very good and flavorful. The carrots had a lot of cumin flavor. The food itself isn't spicy, but you can request hot sauce on the side. We ordered one, but it was better without it. You get a choice of couscous or garlic mashed potatoes. We both had couscous.
Overall, the food was good and had a lot of flavor on the outside. The chicken was a little dry and salty to my liking. I thought the beef itself was very tender, but didn't have much flavor on the inside. It's all the stuff they put on it after it's cooked.
I definitely would like to go back and try something else, maybe the lamb shank, next time. It sounded really good, but I'm not the biggest fan of lamb.
As others have mentioned, they validate parking at the lot next door under the medical clinic. What we didn't know before was how they do it. What you do is park, go inside and tell them you are parking and having dinner, then they give you a ticket to go put inside the slot for your spot.
Kous Kous is everything you look for in a good eclectic restaurant. The variety of food is abundant, but not overwhelming. The spices that are used in all of their dishes are rare and unique in their combinations. After each course (and I did go through many), I was pleasantly surprised to see what they could come up with for the next. On top of the food, the service was top of the line. After dinner, I chatted with the owner, and he was extremely humble and grateful to be sharing his food with us. 'Kous Kous' is a restaurant that I will attend regularly.
I just have one thing to say:
Orange blossom rose water vanilla bean custard with dates and toasted almonds. It will change your life.
And I lied, I have a lot of things to say about Kous Kous.
The bf and I showed up 15 minutes before they opened and the server very (veryveryvery) politely told us to come back in a little bit after they had a chance to finish opening.
When we got back, everything was set up. Our server was super attentive and nice. He described everything on the menu and even asked if either of us were vegetarians (which my boyfriend is) and proceeded to point out the vegetarian items on the menu.
All his suggestions were delicious. We started out with the Zaalouk, a roasted eggplant appetizer served with grilled pita. It was really tasty. I had the chicken tagine with garlic ginger mashed potatoes. I'm a bit of a sucker for garlic mashed potatoes so I had to try them. They were amazing. So good. And the chicken was super moist and flavorful. My boyfriend had the Veggie Berber Tagine and he ate till he was stuffed.
But the dessert was the piece de resistance. Their take on the creme brulee blew my mind. And I hate creme brulee. But, oh my god, their custard desert will definitely have me coming back.
100th review!
Kous Kous is absolutely wonderful. Mouman & Company do a great job of serving up all sorts of delicious fare in their cozy Hillcrest restaurant. We've been there at least 4 times now and have never been disappointed.
I strongly recommend the Merguez Sausage, both B'Stillas, and the Lamb Shank Tajine. Definitely get the Tajines served with cous cous -- it's really good. They have awesome home-made sangria and half-price bottles of wine on Mondays and Wednesdays. Truly five stars all the way.
Now for the four star part... there's usually a fish of the day, served with cous cous and a prawns. It's quite tasty in its own right, but it really pales in comparison to the meats. Stick with the beef, lamb, or chicken; you won't be disappointed.
This restaurant is amaaazing. It has authentic and unique Moroccan food (dishes that you can not find many other places in SD). We had some African wine, an appetizer, entrees, and a dessert (whew were we full!). The service was wonderful (the owner talked for us for a little while making sure we were enjoying ourselves) and the atmosphere was great, too, as they had Casablanca playing on a movie screen in the back of the restaurant.
I wish I could remember the names of the dishes we had because they were so good but it has been awhile. One of them had chicken or beef stuffed in a pepper which was actually a cool tasting mixture of foods. I got a lamb dish and it was super yummy.
I really liked this restaurant. The ambiance was nice and the staff was exceedingly friendly and knowledgeable. If you like your meat tender and falling off the bone (like me) you will love their tagines. I also love the mint tea. Well worth it!
Validated parking is the icing on the cake!
We had a fantastic dinner at Kous Kous tonight. The food and service were both top-notch. Excellent ambiance, too. Check it out!!
Loved this place, romantic atmosphere, superb food, great service. We had a great time. The lamb is so tasty and they make some of the best couscous I've ever had. Delish!
Didn't know until we got inside, the waiter said that they do validate parking in the lot next door.
I was completely blown away by the wonderfully delicious Moroccan food at Kous Kous. I've eaten a lot of North African food, and this place is one of the best without a doubt. The staff is very friendly, the ambiance is cool without being pretentious, the menu is diverse, the prices are average, and the food was beyond belief. To say that I inhaled my chicken tajine would be an understatement.
Don't be fooled by the exterior; from the outside the restaurant seems insipid, but it's exactly the opposite when you enter. I highly recommend Kous Kous to any person that wants to try authentic Moroccan food in a friendly setting with excellent service.
Dig it. I went here last night with my girlfriend and loved it from the start. We walked down the stairs, opened the door and the lights were low, there were couches on the side (though you don't sit at them while you eat even though that would be better), and the place was empty. I don't know why. It should be packed.
The food was amazing. I asked the waiter his favorite, and he suggested the Beef Tagine. We asked for another minute, and another couple sitting nearby leaned in to tell us that the Beef Tagine was to die for. So we got it (along with the Stuffed Tomato and Bell Pepper which was also great). Damn, the food was good. One note, if you are on the fence: I know it is Moroccan food and the place is called Kous Kous, but I think the mashed potatoes were slightly better than the cous cous. Just saying...
Two final notes. The Sangria gets you tipsy, and the custard desert was phenomenal.
Very cute restaurant nestled on the lower level of a building. It's sort of hidden, but just go down the stairs next to the garage. Validated parking is definitely a plus!!! Otherwise, the garage is $5, which isn't bad. Upon walking in, there's a loungy area for while you wait, but it was hardly utilized last night. The dining area has a dim nice modern feel to it. Nice romantic date spot!
The menu isn't too extensive with a million varieties of combinations, which is good. For appetizers (ranging from $6-12) you can choose from salads, the bastillas (highly recommended), moroccan version of skewers, and vegetarian spreads. We got the 2 roll sampler of the bastillas in phylo bread. Both were delicious!!! Their bastillas are differnet in that they make individual rolls, but they cut the rolls in half so it's easy to share. They came out bigger than what i had expected. It was the perfect portion for 2 people. The chef brought it out to us personally, which was very cool. He gave us wine recommendations, and seemed to know the wines very well. 4 stars for him! He didn't seem dressed like a chef though... but that's what the waitress had told us.
We ordered 3 entrees because the August 50% special was too good to be true. We tried the seafood special of Halibut and 4 shrimp, lamb shank, and ahi tuna skewers. The only difference between the skewer appetizers and the entree is that you get an extra skewer --8oz vs. 4oz. When our ahi tuna skewer came out, it was just 2 skewers on a bed of tomato and cucumber salad. I guess 8oz is equal to 2 skewers! I thought it was more than that. THe portions of the ahi tuna were kind of small. Nevertheless, it was cooked perfectly. The cucumber and tomato salad went very nicely with it. It was very refreshing. The rest of the entrees came out with either cous cous or ginger mashed potatoes. Both were delicious sides. You couldn't taste the ginger in the mashed potatoes, which was a good thing because I don't like ginger =P The lamb had a very nice sauce to go with it. It wasn't as tender as I would have liked, but it was still very good. The halibut was small, and my friend said it was a little overcooked, but it was fine for me. The shrimp were kind of small, I thought she said it came with jumbo shrimp?? My pinot noir went nicely with all the dishes. They serve the wine in goblet-like wine glasses. It was huge! We weren't too overly stuffed at the end, so 3 entrees was a good call since the portions for the skewers and seafood special were on the smaller side.
Overall, service was great, very nice ambiance, and good food. For all that we ordered: 1 appetizer, 3 entrees, and 2 glasses of wine = $64 (+ tip =$74). SCORE! Would definitely be back with these kinds of deals!
This location is a bit hard to find, but once you do be sure to park in the lot on the side just after the restaurant. Before sitting down, let the host(ess) know you're parked there and s/he'll give you a parking pass.
They've done all the can ambiance-wise with the location. The stall is built for retail or commercial use, not a restaurant, but they've done a good job redecorating. Service was quite satisfactory.
Food/beverage: Started with the bastilla, which was tasty but an awfully small portion. It resembled a small egg roll. The house sangria was watered down and uninspired - you'd do well to avoid it. These are both somewhat forgiven by a good dinner. I was very happy with the beef tangine, which was artfully cooked and sauced. I also enjoyed their couscous. My girlfriend was less impressed with the lamb tangine. She said the lamb was properly cooked but that the sauce was a bit bland. Contrary to the appetizer, the entrees were of a decent portion.
Judging from the enthusiastic comments others have left, I'm thinking that we might have gone on an off-night. We were one of only two tables in the place on a Sunday evening. Perhaps when the kitchen is busier (and more staff are around) food and beverage come out a bit better.
This place also isn't cheap. The bastilla was $7 or 8 and the entrees ranged from $14-$25. Total bill for two glasses of "sangria," a bastilla, and two entrees was $75. Given my lukewarm feelings about the experience, I can't justify the price structure.
I'd return - but probably only with a friend who knows the menu and swears I just hit Kous Kous on an off night.
Cozy, charming atmosphere. Great place to try something different but not feel out of place.
This is what I would call a transitional Moroccan restaurant. It has authentic moroccan food- served in a more American/western style. You sit at regular dining tables and the main courses are served as individual dishes for each person. And regular silverware is standard. So if you are curious about trying this style of cuisine, but don't want to go "totally ethnic", this is the place for you.
My hubby and I considered ordering the prix-fixe menu at $30 pp, but decided to ordered specific menu items. We.shared three appetizers- traditional b'stila rolls with chicken and cinnamon, the merguez- a set of small sausages served with pita bread, and a carrot puree with hints of ginger and garlic as a spread with the pita bread. We followed this with a main course of skewered ahi (him) and roasted lamb with a plum almond sauce. Instead of the traditional cous cous side, I ordered mashed potatoes which was a perfect complement to the stewed lamb. Have to say that it was some of the best lamb I've ever had-- the plum sauce gave it the right balance of sweetness and richness.
Total check for three appetizers, two main courses, 1 glass of wine, 1 fresh mint tea was just over $60-- very reasonable. We also liked how we could park in the garage next door for free-- a nice convenience.
Will definitely go again!
I love trying new foods especially one where my taste-buds can experience a whole different culture. First of all, I have to say 5 stars immediately for service. The bf and I went in 10 minutes prior to closing time and the waiter happily seated us rather than shooing us away like most places. Although we could no longer order off the entree side of the menu, we were fine ordering off the tapas menu. Breakdown of what we ordered:
cous cous salad-- which was pretty good especially with the nuts
traditional b'stila roll-- not our favorite; although the chicken was cooked nicely and had lots of flavor, there was a unique aftertaste that we couldn't pinpoint. Maybe it was the mixture of honey and cinnamon and those brown things that had the look and texture of bacon but not.
ahi tuna skewer served with pita-- delicious and juicy
beef brochette skewer served with pita-- juicy and tender; it was the bf's favorite dish
dessert-- we had this creamy dessert with cinnamon, rose water with almonds and nuts. I'm not sure of what it was exactly but we devoured that dessert plate! Besides the skewers, the dessert was definitely the highlight of our meal.
Since the bf and I weren't terribly hungry, it was enough for us to split. The waiter also brought us some spicy, red Moroccan sauce that added a strong but nice heat to the tapas and pita breads.
The decor is romantic with plush curtains and lanterns hanging from the ceiling. I definitely want to visit Kous Kous again to try their entrees and that decadent dessert.
Today I reviewed my credit card statement and it shows that Kous Kous put an $18 tip on my bill! I remember adding only $8, so I wonder where that extra $10 came from?
So not only was I very disappointed in the food, now I question the integrity of the staff at Kous Kous. Hmmmm...
I took a guest of mine to Kous Kous based on the great reviews here on Yelp. i'm sorry I got her… Read more »
This is our favorite restaurant in San Diego. Hands down. We just dined here with a large group and everyone loved it; 2 of which were very meat and potatoes type people. There's something on the menu for everyone. The food is very savory and complex in flavor, but not too heavy or too spicy and never bland. We've had most of the fish, lamb and chicken dishes and have never been disappointed. The soup is yummy and their B'stila Rolls are SO good.
the wait is never too long, and inside the restaurant is beautiful- soft lighting, luxurious textures, rich colors. Great service all around and the owner/chef is such a super nice guy- a very down to earth guy that always greets his guests either at the door or tableside and never forgets a face.
Still Amazing. Still love Moumen.
This time you MUST try the Merguez, which is beef and lamb sausage that is complete deliciousness.
By the way, Kous Kous is great for groups. I bring along people, mostly so I can eat of their plates and so we can order pitchers of that heavenly sangria, doing that all alone just looks weird.
Kous Kous is a AMAZING. Mouman, the owner, should be elevated to cooking sainthood.
For first-timers:…
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This restaurant is one of the most romantic restaurants in San Diego. Not only that, the food is simply AMAZING.
This is the first place I have tried Moroccan food. I sort of came in with low expectations but my-my, their food is absolutely delicious!
I ordered the Lamb Shank Tagine which was prepared with honey sauce, caramelized dry fruit and sesame seeds. It came with whole wheat couscous (my favorite!!), garbazno beans and honey caramelized raisins. The lamb was incredibly tender and melt in my mouth. It paired very well with the couscous.. I call it "grinded rice." because that's what it's like, just 100x better.
I will definitely go back before I move out of CA to try some other items and of course, their couscous.
The ambiance is quiet, dimly-lit, classy and very romantic. Definitely take your date if you both want to try something new and different.
Limited menu, but everything is very good. Strangely, I don't like their actual couscous. I can't figure out why, but the carrots they bring as an appetizer are addicting. Service is friendly.
OK Mediterranean food, friendly staff, free parking next door at night.
My gf and I have been meaning to check this place out for a while now and we finally did.
We went on a Friday night and were able to be seated within 5 minutes.
The decor inside is very nice and authentic. Our server [Jason] was very helpful and informative of all of the food on the menu and made us comfortable with understanding the different items as it was our first time there.
I had the skewered shrimp with a tomato sauce. It was delicious. My gf had the chicken plate and it was very good, but too much food for her.
Overall Kous Kous will be added to our top places to eat out at.
I love this restaurant. It has fantastic food, great wine selection, knowledgeable and friendly staff and great ambiance. Moumen is spectacular as a chef. Katie is also great and I love talking to her when I'm there. They always remember us when we walk in the door too. :)
I have never had a complaint about the food (don't get me wrong, I play favorites...but everything has been perfect!). I love the atmosphere and if you request the corner booth you're in for a romantic evening--just don't do it when I want it!
I always have trouble not ordering a ton of appetizers, it's so hard to choose between them. Most recently I tried the Zaalouk ("Roasted Eggplant flavored with cumin, olive oil and lemon preserve"), which was very tasty and served with their delightful soft, warm pita bread. We also had the Shrimp brochette ("Shrimp skewer, tomato "Sharmoula" sauce"). The shrimp were so perfectly cooked -- I had no idea you could grill shrimp and not over cook them and the tomato sauce went very well with them.
My favorites still include the B'stila Rolls, both the traditional (a sweet and savory combo) and the essaouira (a shrimp version). And I adore the Merguez ("Spiced beef and lamb sausage").
As far as main courses, I love the Lamb Shank Tagine (" "Ras el hanout"and honey sauce, caramelized dry fruit, toasted almonds and sesame seeds") It is to die for. The lamb always falls off the bone and I love the sauce and the sweet fruityness of the raisins and the cinnamon flavor and I always want it with the cous cous. I have also tried the Marrakesh lamb Tanjia ("10 hours slow braised with saffron, cumin garlic and lemon preserves"), but I think I'm addicted to the Lamb Shank Tagine as I find it hard to order anything else. I keep meaning to try the seafood special, It does usually sound delightful but I love lamb so much. Can you blame me when it's so tasty?
Moumen takes care to serve handpicked wines, he can tell you about the vineyard they're from usually not to mention offering up the perfect recommendation to go with your meal. Great wine selection, and half off on bottles on Monday and Wednesdays. Oh yes, and try the Sangria. It's so good! They put a bit of clove in it and it gives it this very faint spicyness, it's great!
Mmmm delicious. Overall, I love this restaurant, I definitely think you should check it out if you haven't already.
This was my first time trying Moroccan and it was absolutely fantastic. I think I'm a fan, and I'm… Read more »
Second time at this place. Wonderful service! Shrimp was very good! It was a special with some fish in a reddish color sauce.
We also had a chicken dish (takes 2. 5 hours to slow cook or something like that) that was nothing too special-just chicken.
Be ready to wait 30 minutes or so for that chicken too!
I hadn't been extremely impressed by my previous encounters with Moroccan cuisine but the lamb shank tagine here was heavenly. It was a generous portion and melts in your mouth. I was a little afraid of the honey sauce but it works so well, dried fruit, nuts, and all. The service was good and the ambience could be romantic if I'd had a date. I actually used the 50% yelp coupon, but it's definitely worth the full price anyway.
I cannot wait to come back! My partner and I were deciding between this place and the cheap tapas place across the street. We were invited in by the host--and decided to try Kous Kous.
They were very sweet--we chose a corner table that was decorated with colorful drapery, plush pillows and beautiful lamps. It was very romantic.
Our server was sooo helpful. Very friendly young lady.
I had an amazing experience. I had the lentil soup, which is very tasty. I ordered off the specials menu--the mahi mahi.
My partner ordered tapas--he was also very satisfied.
Come on Mondays for a half priced bottle of wine.
Neighborhood: La Jolla
Category: Moroccan
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