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Kous Kous
Category: Restaurants Moroccan Moroccan [Edit]
3940 4th AveSte 110
(between University Ave & Washington St)
San Diego, CA 92103
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
(619) 295-5560
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
602 reviews for Kous Kous
Review Highlights
"lemon preserves, my group enjoyed: Lamb Shank Tagine."
(in 52 reviews)
"And the cous cous complimented it very well."
(in 100 reviews)
"Also, make sure you try the mint tea."
(in 49 reviews)
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602 reviews in English
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Review from Kira M.
San Marcos, CA
1/27/2012
This is my FAVORITE restaurant... period.
My husband and I found Kous Kous through San Diego Retaurant Week. (A little disappointed they weren't on the list this year.) I actually stopped talking when my food came, just to smell the food. The aromas, flavors and textures are exotic delicious and perfect. They even made me enjoy olives, and I don't like brined anything! Truly and outstanding place. I just love, love, love it!
Keep an eye out for deals on Living Social. I just bought $40 for $20. -
Review from Gloria C.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012
Fun decor
Great spices
Dim lighting
Great location (Hillcrest)
Simple but versatile menu
I was so excited to try Kous Kous as the reviews here on Yelp are great. And I personally know a lot of fans of this restaurant. Unfortunately, I was little bit disappointed. The food itself was great. I ordered the zalouk (tapas, 50% off for happy hour) and beef tagine (entree, $18). The zalouk was yummy--pita bread served with slow roasted eggplant. This had lots of cumin and paprika with a hint of lemon on the finish. The beef tagine was also delicious with much of the same flavors--cumin and paprika, slow cooked beef, carrots, and peas. The sauce was excellent although a bit oily for my liking. I would have liked a cleaner finish for this dish, either some more bread (as they only gave us one roll of "Moroccan" bread which tasted like a regular white flour roll to me), some rice, or some lemon flavors.
Again, flavors--all great. But for a nearly $20 plate, I felt that something was missing. The entree especially needed something to balance the strong beef and spices. Additionally, the dim lighting made it difficult to see exactly what I was eating. Yummy, glad I tried it; but I probably won't be back.
FYI: Happy Hour = great deal. 5-6 PM, everyday, 50% of all drinks and tapas (limited to 2 tapas per customer). -
Review from Christina S.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
I'm torn writing this review. The service there is excellent. We had a reservation which made things easier, but the waiter we had was so friendly and very very helpful. The food was ok... I had the Roasted Vegetable Couscous and the zucchini on my plate was waaaay over cooked and like mush. The carrots on my plate were cold. and the couscous was room temp. It just seemed like they were in a rush while plating my food (or heating it up) and I wasn't that happy with it. My boyfriend had the Fassi Lamb Shank Tagine, which the server talked up and made it sound like it had been slow cooking for hours upon hours and it was going to be so succulent and delicious. It was meh. The "caramelized dried fruit" seemed like it was just tossed in last minute, all 3 pieces. The lamb was fall off the bone tender, but it wasn't anything memorable.
I really tried to like this place, but I left very disappointed and kinda hungry. -
Review from Kenny O.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
[Review #400!!!]
I was saving one of my rare 5-star reviews for this #400th review. I've been to Kous Kous a couple of times now, and I was really saving the best for last.
Kous Kous. One of my favorite restaurants in San Diego (period) and definitely my favorite Moroccan restaurants (anywhere).
The ambiance:
Quiet, dim, intimate (romantic?), but still casual enough for eating here with a friend. If you request for one of the seats near the back of the restaurant, you can hide away in a really comfy corner for some extra privacy. Really charming.
The food:
We started with their hot Moroccan Mint Tea. Wonderfully sweet and smooth. I order Moroccan Mint anywhere I go when I actually decide to pay for tea, and this is by far the best I've had. Whatever they do to steep the tea is god's work.
For appetizers, we ordered the Cous Cous Salad (I mean it's their namesake!) and the B'stila Roll (chicken in phylo dough). The cous cous was cooked perfectly and retained its texture without being too al dente; it was dressed lightly and didn't taste too citrus-y like at other Moroccan/Mediterranean restaurants. Great job. The B'stila roll was forgettable. I'm a sucker for phylo, but this just didn't knock it out of the ballpark for me. I'm definitely not saying it was bad (it was tasty for sure), but it wasn't on par with the absurd high-level the other dishes of that night.
For the entrees, we ordered two lamb plates: the Merguez (spiced lamb sausage served with peas) and the Berber Lamb Shank Tagine (braised lamb shank in a very rich butter sauce/soup served with vegetables). Alongside it was Moroccan bread with sharmoula aioli and some other savory accompaniment that actually eludes me. The sausage was heavily spiced with Paprika and Cumin (my two favorite spices) so it was as if they were just playing to my weaknesses! The peas were really bland, but who cares about peas when you have awesome sausage?!? The lamb shank was falling off the bone (as it should) and tender to the fork. The butter sauce it was bathing in is dangerous as you're compelled to drink spoonfuls after getting your first taste. All in all, I think that was the star of the night.
The service:
Amazing. Our waiter was extremely caring, personable, and absolutely funny. It was my second time here and I've had great experiences both times with the wait staff. They also seem to be a bit understaffed, so they deserve all the tips you give them.
tl;dr The food here is awesome. ALWAYS order the Moroccan Mint. The sausage is good. The berber lamb shank tagine is amazing. The servers here are some of the best around.
HIGHLY recommended! -
Review from Alex W.
San Diego, CA
1/21/2012
Two friends and I went at 5:30 on a Friday and were able to take advantage of the 1/2 off drinks and tapas until 5:00pm. The drinks were mixed strong, and the tapas came out fast, hot, and delicious. We had some KABOBS (the KEFTA kabob was the favorite). The kabob tapas come with a serving of saffron rice, which was flavorful and of good texture.
I had the BERBER LAMB SHANK for dinner, which I think falls under the "tagine" dishes. All the tagine dishes are marinated for hours and slow-cooked. Once the dish gets to your table, the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. The lamb was savory without being overpowering. The owner said this is one of their specialties; it's easy to see why.
We loved how the owner was circulating around the restaurant, talking to customers, and explaining Moroccan cuisine. He clearly loves making food for others to enjoy. Great food, great service. I will definitely go back! -
Review from Jacques S.
Coronado, CA
1/17/2012
One of the darlings of Yelp.. Kous Kous is all its cracked up to be.
I made the mistake of trying to grab lunch here a few months ago only to find out they were only open for dinner. I returned this weekend and found out first hand that it lives up to the hype. I knew that if my two foodie friends loved it, it had to be good.
I was expecting some great food, but what I wasn't expecting was one of the best drinks I have ever had - The Desert Rose.
The white bean salad appetizer was really good.. and that is saying a lot as a meat lover. The lamb sausage was excellent and we had this savory lamb pastry dish, I don't remember what it was called, but it was like meat.. meets donut... why the rest of the world isn't doing this yet.. I have no idea.
What makes a perfect dinner? Great food, ambiance, company and service.. Not only was our dinner great, but the owner of the restaurant spent some time at our table answer questions we had about Moroccan food. I left feeling like I had been invited into his home for dinner. -
Review from Su C.
New York, NY
2/8/2012
I LOVE this place!!! We always get the tasting menu and leave feeling like complete gluttons. The owner is always gracious, water is always refilled, and substitutions are allowed as long as the price is the same. And of course the food is amazing.
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Review from Amy G.
San Diego, CA
2/4/2012
This will have to be an non-review from a non-fan.
For all the good things written about how great the food is, I guess I will never find out!
We made reservations by phone last Jan 28 for 8:30. After having been told that our reservation was missing and there will be a 20 minute wait, we graciously sat at the bar and ordered drinks. 45 minutes later, no seating was offered despite a polite reminder to the guy at the front. The bartender told us he is the owner/manager when we attempted to complain. We walked out and had dinner elsewehere.
What galls me is the attitude and the confidence (or is it arrogance ?) that because there has been a steady stream of good reviews and popularity with fans, business and patronage will continue. Let's just say none will be coming from me.
I tried to put no stars but I am only able to give one star as the lowest rating. -
Review from Anh T.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012
I am biased because I am in love with Morroccan cuisine. I wish there were more restaurants in San Diego to compare to, but this is as good as it gets here.
We went here for restaurant week years ago and vowed to come back...and we did! We went here for a friends bday (party of 12!) and even though their website says they don't take reservations - they were more than happy to accomodate us (it was the middle of the week -so go figure).
We ordered family style so we could all share a little bit of everything. Everything here is good and I don't think I've ever had a dish dissappoint me.
On the expensive side for Morroccan...and for the portion size - but with so few places in San Diego - it's definitely worth it.
Recommend - the TEA .. it's like sweet tea, but infused with flavors of that region.
The tagines are all good. -
Review from Sarah B.
San Diego, CA
1/23/2012
I am torn with this review. The restaurant itself is very neat with lots of character and would be a great date place. It has a tapas menu, so it's great for sharing and trying lots of different things. The food is pretty good, and if you are a vegetarian, they give you a 25% discount on Mondays; however, I never leave thinking "omg. that food was amazing!" it's just good.
I've been there twice now and both times the service was SO slow, and both times they were not busy. at all. I went there tonight, a Monday, for a friend's going away dinner and there were just 3 other diners in the restaurant besides us and it took the waiter about 45 minutes to come and take our order. We actually had to flag him down. We also had to flag him down a few times to refill our waters. I would somewhat understand if the restaurant was busy, but it wasn't.
Also, they offer a $20 feast that you can split with the whole table - but each person has to pay the $20. It's not a bad deal, but I just went to get a side order because I wasn't that hungry, and the server would not let the rest of the group order the $20 feast because I wasn't ordering it - apparently, the WHOLE table had to order it, which seemed a little ridiculous to me.
Overall, if you want a different and unique dining experience, I would suggest this place, but make sure you aren't starving when you go as the portions are small and it takes an hour to get served. -
Review from Jas G.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
I was extremely impressed with this restaurant!! We went on a Tuesday when they have 50% off all of their tapas plates. The restaurant is really intimate and the staff was amazing and very attentive. The food was delicious and the wine was tasty. I would highly recommend this place and plan on coming here again!
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Review from Keridwyn R.
Coronado, CA
1/15/2012
My boyfriend and I ended up at Kous Kous on Friday night, for a few reasons.
1. I now live in HIllcrest.
2. I bought a coupon from the Reader ($20 for a $40 certificate).
3. We're trying to branch out from buffets and taco shops.
Once I bought the coupon, I made a reservation using the link here on Yelp (it takes you to a reservation website, Open Table). It was easy to use and we made the reservation for 7:15. We walked to the restaurant and got there a little after 7, but it wasn't busy so they sat us.
The decor was really nice. I like how the tables in the front are with sofas, so it's less like a restaurant and more cozy. The tables in the back have chairs and ours was one chair across from a booth-type seat. The lighting is very dim, which isn't of much care to me, but it gives the place a more exotic ambiance and makes for a good date. There was a birthdya party in the middle, so good for groups.
We were brought menus and then a few minutes later, our server came back and went through the menu in great detail. I guess a lot of people would like that having never had Moroccan food, but when waiters do that whole schpiel I get bored.
They have tapas and small orders of kabobs with saffron rice for appetizers, larger orders of kabobs and dishes called tagines for entrees, two kinds of couscous, and then two types of "feasts". These are priced at $20 and $30 a person, you get a taste of what the restaurant has (1-3 appetizers, couscous, 1-2 entrees, and dessert, none of your choice, it's a pre-set menu). The table next to us got the $20 feast.
We liked our food but kind of wished we'd gone with the $20 feast. The $30 is probably a significantly better meal, but maybe we'll try that on a night we're (1) super hungry, and (2) feeling REALLY baller.
After we ordered, we were brought out these marinated carrots with a spicy sauce as like an appetizer to the appetizer. It was a sweet and spicy flavor that I still haven't decided if I really liked yet.
Shak-shouka $7: it's an eggplant mixture on pita pieces, I think there were 6 pieces on the plate. It was really good, tasted fresh and well-seasoned, subtle flavors.
Shrimp kabob appetizer $8: I was a little disappointed when we spent $8 on four small shrimps over some saffron rice, but they tasted amazing, so I was more okay with it. The dish had a "Sharmoula" sauce over it which looked and tasted tomato-based.
Chicken tagine $18: This is what I got for an entree, two hunks of chicken (there's a picture in this yelp of it) and carrots in a sauce. It tasted really good and the vegetable sauce had some fruity taste to it. The only thing I didn't love was some of the seasonings are kind of minty/other herby things that I don't associate with meat.
Berber lamb shank tagine $18: My boyfriend got this because it sounded good on the menu and our server said it was one of the most popular, favorite dishes. Boyfriend ate it all but was not impressed. His probably had half as much meat as mine (so I shared, a lot) and he said the seasoning was very different from mine in a not-so-good way. He likes pretty much everything, and there's only been one thing at a restaurant I've seen him taste and refuse to eat more; he said, "it was good but I definitely wouldn't order it again" in a way that screamed, "it wasn't good but I don't want to make you feel bad for choosing this restaurant."
The tagines came with a bread, that boyfriend ate all of because I don't really like bread to begin with, but this was the texture of cardboard. It tasted fine, but was so tough even when soaked in the tagine sauce.
I hadn't printed my coupon, but they were really chill about me showing it to them on my phone.
Overall, the food was good, but it was pretty pricy for not leaving all that full. We still had room for gelato, which is not how we like to leave a restaurant after a $55 bill (thank you Reader).
I would eat here again if someone else was paying, or maybe I would get a feast choice instead. -
Review from Todd O.
1/4/2012
My friend decided to become a vegetarian, so our options were more limited. Looked on yelp and the menu here looked appetizing for vegetarians and meat eaters alike...and it didn't disappoint. When we entered, we found out it was Tapas Tuesdays (yayyy!) so their tapas menu was half off. Decided to order a bunch of tapas and their beef tagine ($18) and special seafood tagine ($18), both of which were nicely seasoned, although I wish there was more fish in the seafood dish (it did have quite a bit of shrimp though).
From the tapas menu, we got the b'stila roll ($8), which was savory and sweet; the tomato & cucumber moroccan salad ($6), which was refreshing and was complemented with their pita; the shak-shouka ($7), which smelled amazing and reminded me of a mini veggie pizza slice; the vegetarian sampler ($19), which wasn't included in the half off specials, but had a 4 varieties of tapas; and the beef kabob ($10) which included two relatively small portioned filet skewers with their flavorful saffron rice.
With their tapas tuesday, each person can order 2 tapas at the discounted price. The service was extremely friendly and attentive, and the waiter made everything on the menu sound as delicious as it was. Metered parking is available on the street, or their are $2/hour lots within a few seconds walk. With such great food, I'm surprised it wasn't more crowded, but all the better for my friends and I. -
Review from Harry B.
Novi, MI
1/30/2012
Moroccan food doesn't get better than this. Their lamb is just out of this world. My only 5-star rating for a restaurant till now. Please do yourself a favor, and go try this place. I guarantee that you will be the happiest person on this world :-)
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Review from Allie Y.
Philadelphia, PA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mmmmm tagine and couscous. Come here, order this and be satisfied. The meat is tender and the stew in the tagine is well flavored. The couscous is well cooked and tender also with tasty chickpeas on top. I may have helped myself two seconds, or thirds. The green beans were good too. I would definitely get these three again. The chicken skewers I would skip. They were on the dry side.
Overall ambience is nice... the place is dimly lit but not in a shady/dirty looking way. Sangria is also a nice addition to the meal if you're feeling it. Service is good! -
Review from David P.
San Diego, CA
12/19/2011 2 photos
Very exquisite. Truly, a hidden gem in the bustling district of Hillcrest. I called in advance to schedule a reservation for my 6 months with my girlfriend. I spoke with the owner, who was very courteous and helpful, and he reserved us a spot with a quiet and cozy spot. Its Mediterranean and Moroccan fusion was very intriguing.
The interior looked very exotic, serene, and dimly lit. We were greeted by the waiter and he showed us to our table. Corner of section with comfy seats and pillows. Nice. Very nice. Came during happy tapas hour. Tapas were very delectable. She ordered B'stila roll with saffron chicken, honey cinnamon almonds. Get it. Good. Trrust me. I got Zaalouk with eggplant, olive oil, and lemon preserve. Very. Very well done. The main course consisted of chicken tangine and roasted veggies couscous. I'm not usually a fan of veggies, as most of us aren't, but I was really surprised by the infusion of spices. I am a fan of big rice grains so the cous cous rice wasn't the best, but was flavorful.
Great place to go for a romantic dinner. Very intimate, cozy, and exquisite. They were kind to take our photo since we were celebrating 6 thangs! -
Review from Denise T.
12/5/2011
I specifically waited to write a review for Kous Kous because it will always go down as one of my all-time favorite places to have dinner. Now it's going to be my 100th review!
Anyhow, my boyfriend and I were celebrating our 1/2 year and I told him to surprise me with whatever restaurant he would like us to go. He chose here and it was perfect. It's a bit hard to find; you really have to look for the signs since it is a bit underground. Once you walk inside, you notice the ambiance right away. Dimly lit, the sofas are draped in really bold colors that remind you that you're about to try some exotic Moroccan. We were greeted by a really nice host who took note that we were celebrating so he sat us in a really secluded and romantic area. That was really nice of him.
Our waiter (I wish I remembered his name!!!) recommended that we tried the B'stilla, which is their most popular appetizer so I went with that. Outside was a slightly crunchy phylo dough and inside was slightly sweet chicken and cinnamon almonds. Absolutely perfect! The flavors were so delicate inside the little roll of phylo; everything seemed to go together so well. My boyfriend ordered the Zaalouk which was almost like an eggplant hummus with olive oil and had a bit of a tangy taste to it. Although for me, this appetizer didn't match up to the B'stila, it was still really appetizing.
Now onto the main dishes. I ordered the chicken tagine which was just incredible and undoubtedly one of the best things I ever ate. It was cold that night so the warmth of the broth really came through. The chicken was extremely tender, one touch from my fork left the meat falling off. I normally don't enjoy carrots but the thin carrots in this dish were really delightful as it was flavored and tendered by the broth. I wasn't able to finish this dish so we took it home and it was still just as delicious. My boyfriend ordered their roasted vegetable couscous. I shared with him some of my chicken tagine to go on top and both complimented each other quite well.
Overall it was a wonderful experience. Our waiter (again, I wish I remembered his name!!) was very attentive, constantly refilling our waters, and stopped to ask us how the food was and if we needed anything else. The decor appeared very cultured, the service was exquisite, and the food was superb. I've been itching to come back!Listed in: My San Diego Favorites
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Review from Aria F.
La Jolla, CA
1/27/2012
The food here is great. And the atmosphere...wow! Amazing! Very authentic. I can't stop giving complements, somebody stop me
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Review from Kelly O.
12/19/2011
I've been here maybe 3 times over the past 3 years, and every time I have been excited then ended up wishing it was just a tiny bit more flavorful. I think maybe I've just ordered poorly. Why such a high rating, then?
Well, the service is very good, and the guy who is the owner (I think) is so friendly and kind of cute, which is a bonus. The flaky, sweet, and savory b'stila appetizer is also tops.
I got some spicy lamb entree that seemed like pieces of sausage and wasn't great, however my eating partners got the Berber tagine and thought it was pretty good.
So, what am I trying to say here? Did I like it or not?
I guess I'm saying that I think it is hit or miss. But the good service, nice owner, and cool atmosphere in the restaurant mean I'll still go back! -
Review from Kim B.
San Diego, CA
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for "date night" with my boyfriend on a Friday night. We had a coupon for $40 worth of food for $20. I was really excited to try this place because of the reviews on Yelp and because it was my first time trying Moroccan food. I have to say, I'm not a fan.
The service was slow and the food was nothing special. My favorite part of the meal was the mint tea and the free Moroccan bread. Unfortunately, the little teapot it comes in only holds enough tea for 2 small cups.
We started with the B'stila roll which is herb saffron chicken covered in phylo dough and honey cinnamon almonds. I thought it was only okay and the flavor was interesting because it was sweet. We also ordered the stuffed tomato and bell peppers. This dish was WAY too hot. We tried to wait for the dish to cool before eating, but it never did throughout the entire meal. The Berber lamb shank tagine was not very flavorful. The lamb was tender, but I was expecting it to be better based on the reviews I read before. The cous cous was nothing out of the ordinary either. I was expecting better, especially since that is the name of the restaurant.
I'm very surprised Kous Kous received such good reviews on Yelp. We waited a long time for our food, and when it came I wasn't impressed. I don't think I will be back to give it a second chance. -
Review from Irvin C.
Chula Vista, CA
12/29/2011
What's not to like about this place?
Savory food, great service, exotic decor, & a full bar.
This place is great for dates and groups.
The mint tea is amazing & so is the fresh fruit desert bowl.
I usually get the $20 Morrocan feast. I actually think its better than the $30 one.
It has a little of everything so you get a well rounded Morrocan experience.
The people hating on the service & food don't know whats up plain and simple.
The owner is usually there and if you mention anything; I am sure he will fix the issue.
I haven't had any and you can't go wrong here. Check out their happy hour! -
Review from cheryl h.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2011
We took our friends from out of town here after many recommendations by Yelpers and local friends. As new San Diego residents, we're still exploring and looking everywhere.
It was our first time trying Moroccan food so we went in with an open mind and ordered the B'stila (highly recommended) and the Zaalouk, which our waiter immediately raved about when we started wavering between the Zaalouk and another choice. The B'stila is as everyone describes it: sweet and savory--sweet chicken with a kick of cinnamon and powdered sugar. The Zaalouk was also delicious--I'd recommend it as well. It's eggplant and spices smeared onto pita bread. The B'stila is only one small roll that is cut in half, so beware of the price! If you're ordering it for a party of four, you'll need to order several, which will run your bill up quickly.
For our entrees, we ordered one beef tagine and one chicken tagine. I thought the chicken was much better than the beef. My husband thought that the beef tagine tasted like a crockpot stew--I concurred. I thought the chicken absorbed the flavors in a more palatable way.
We ordered a side of couscous, which was more than enough for a table of four--unless you plan on eating a TON of couscous, I don't recommend getting the entree sized.
We also ordered a pitcher of sangria, which was pretty good--the bill ran us about $120, which we thought was a little steep for the amount of food, but it's Hillcrest, and that is the price of dining here.
The food is good, but I would probably not bring friends who are not used to trying ethnic food. It's not great and will not blow your mind (unless all you eat everyday is bland food). The price distracts a bit from the food as well--be prepared to spend more for smaller portions.
Service is VERY good, and the atmosphere is cute--dark, trendy, lots of curtains, but it can get loud on the weekends. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Berkeley, CA
12/20/2011
My boyfriend picked this restaurant for our date night from a recommendation of a friend and the high Yelp review. His research really paid off as Kous Kous was an awesome experience. We had reservations for 7:30 PM on a Saturday night and arrived a bit early. We had to wait a little while for our table, but that was fine because the lobby/bar area was comfy and the ambiance was cool. We were seated at a corned table with pillows galore. I did feel like maybe I was placed too close to the woman at the table next to us, and felt that she could hear everything we said, which made me a little uncomfortable.
Our waiter was awesome (I am really bad at picking up waiter's names, but from what I saw, all the waiters here treat their customers well). He asked us if it was our first time eating Moroccan food (it was), and then patiently went over the menu and bar menu with us. We took his recommendations and ordered the b'stila roll, chicken tangine, lamb tangine, a beer, and the harem (mint Moroccan tea with brandy). It was all delicious, and actually fairly familiar tasting to what my family cooks at home. The harm was pretty good, and the mint gave it a strong first-taste impression but cooled as it went down.
All in all it was a great evening. Parking was a breeze with the $2 per hour parking in the lot next to the Kabobery. However, when we reached the entrance to Kous Kous, this man with a bike looked like he had just exited the building and stopped us to ask for a favor. He said he worked at Kous Kous and was short $1. He wanted to buy a pack of beer down the street. We hesitated and then just gave him $1 to go on own way. If he really does work at Kous Kous, it is incredibly rude and unprofessional to solicit customers before they enter the restaurant. -
Review from Tania w.
12/7/2011
i love this place. LOVE IT.
moroccan food at it's finest. you cannot beat kous kous for their variety, beautiful and delicious dishes, service and prices.
my personal favorites are the b'stila rolls, the chicken tagine, the endive pockets and the zaalouk (a roasted eggplant dish). their dishes are so well spiced, flavorful and comforting. no dish is complete without their famous couscous - it is so good!
order the hot mint tea with your meal, and you'll feel as if you've been whisked away to morocco on a magic carpet. the decor just puts you in the mood to eat with your hands and sit on the floor on pillows. a really fantastic find in hillcrest. -
Review from Chuck S.
San Diego, CA
1/21/2012
Great Friday night at Kous Kous!! This was my first stop at a Moroccan restaurant. Not only will I have Moroccan again, it will be at Kous Kous. Tapas and drinks are HALF price from 5-6....everyday. We ordered 6 items from the tapas menu and had a few drinks, which turned out to be the perfect amount for 2 people. The KEFTA Kabob was, hands-down, the best of the night. The chicken and beef kabobs were good too, but on the small side. If you go, make sure you order the ZAALOUK (roasted eggplant); it's so good.
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Review from Ashley K.
San Diego, CA
11/17/2011
I really liked my food... BUT.
Service was great.
Moroccan tea was delicious.
Berber Lamb Shank Tagine was yummy.
But I left hungry. This place is pretty pricey. The moroccan tea my friend and I got was like $4 for what was barely larger than a shot glass full. The place with my favorite moroccan tea gives you your own little tea pot of tea, and when that's gone, they add more water. The tagine, was just so small, with nothing on the side. I would have needed to order several sides to be full. Overall not sure if I would come back- just not worth it. Maybe happy hour? -
Review from Aniket V.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Awesome lamb here...
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Review from haley k.
Santa Clara, CA
12/5/2011
This was my first time eating Moroccan food--and I must say, DELICIOUS!
Started with a Moroccan Kiss drink--very refreshing, citrusy, and light! Ended up getting 2 of them (late night happy hour--can't go wrong)
We ordered the b'stilla roll. Who doesn't like phylo dough? It was a nice mix of sweet and savory. We also ordered the Shak-Shouka--omg you have to get it. Warm, chewy pita and an amazing mix of bell peppers, tomato, garlic and other moroccan spices. Served with their hot sauce. Craving it right now!
They bring these carrots out before your main meal is served. They were gone in 2.5 seconds.
I ordered the chicken tagine and my bf ordered beef tagine (he had been there before). I was a little sad it didn't come with rice or cous cous (had to order it separately, which we did),
The beef was super tender, flavourful, came with peas and carrotts and served with Moroccan bread (so hot, fresh fresh out of the oven). The chicken was the same. fall off the bone. YUMM. I'm not sure which I liked more, the saffron rice or the garlic mashed potatoes, I suggest trying both (the rice with the chicken was perfect, and potatoes with teh beef was perfect).
We both ate about half of our meal and ordered way too much (but couldn't resist trying it all).
Finished it off with their fresh strawberries with cinnamon, spices, and an orange glaze. Super refreshing and perfect after a filling meal. The staff was really helpful and friendly. I think it was the owner who came up to talk to us after. Nice guy.
I will definitely come back the next time I'm in SD! -
Review from Sharon G.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
You step down into this charming restaurant and into a bit of a different world -- it's beautifully draped and comfortably ornate. Our server said he's seen two proposals there. And the best thing about it is the mint tea. We've never had any tea approaching the goodness of this. I believe the flavor is enhanced with orange blossom water. We ordered two pots. We talked all week about coming back for more, but the night we planned it something else came up. The lamb tangine and cous cous were good too, but the tea was the showstopper. We'll probably get tea and tapas next time and enjoy the atmosphere.
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Review from David D.
San Diego, CA
2/2/2012
pretty much everything you want in a restaurant. excellent service, delicious food, and a good vibe inside. I took my fiancé here and we had a blast. Make sure to try the B'stila roll (Baked Stuffed Phylo) with the Moroccan wine, it's awesome!
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Review from Brian K.
10/27/2011
At first, it's easy to fall in love with this place because the atmosphere is dark, seductive and great for entertaining but the food seems off the mark. But once you dig a little deeper, you find the bugs underneath the rock. Kous Kous is now a culinary has been?
After a few visits to this place, I've concluded that this is more of an atmosphere place than one focused on food.
This time around, I ordered the shrimp and cod tagine. The cod was "forced-thawed" (defrosting frozen fish by dunking it in water).
And to rub salt in your wound, they no longer validate.
Service was very slow. -
Review from Jaime S.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2012
Decided to stop by here last night for some drinks and tapas, and we were not disappointed on either front. The standout menu items were the Kefta Kabobs with saffron rice and the B'Stilla roll. Their signature cocktails were also quite unique and tasty. Our server was very friendly and attentive, even taking the time to explain the menu items thoroughly and providing his own recommendations. Overall, we were pleased with our experience here and would definitely recommend it!
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Review from Justin L.
San Diego, CA
1/10/2012
Cute little place. Get the Honey Mint Tea (delish). Mint is not too overpowering. I recommend the fassi lamb shank tangine and it was very interesting (good way). It was tender/fall off the bone first of all. (Super hot in temperature btw!) It was a nice mix of salty and fruity and sweet. It also didnt have that 'lamb' taste which was a plus. Overall good moroccan food. :)
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Review from Shawn S.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
Delicious! Go for the $30 feast. It will stuff you twice.
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Review from gigi l.
San Diego, CA
1/2/2012
My 5 friends and I came here for the reverse happy hour, which included half off well drinks and tapas. We ordered 12 tapas +/- 10 drinks with another entree to share and only spent a lil over $20/person w tip&tax. Boy, were we satisfied! The food was delish and the service was pleasant. The owner/chef even came out to greet us and poured 2rounds of shots on the house that tasted like lychee. I had a great time here and I will definitely return to the other goodies they have to offer. (=
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Review from Eunjoo P.
10/20/2011
Last year, I would have rated this place 4 & 1/2 stars.
My boyfriend & I went back recently to take his sister and friend that were visiting and it was such a disappointment.
When I have guests visiting from out of town, I try to take my guests to the best restaurants in SD but little did I know how cheap this place has gotten & how much their service has clearly dropped.
Maybe because business is slow? Either way, no excuses.. it was terrible. Portions got smaller, now they don't even allow you to choose your sides...so your side dish with the $20 entrees is now bread...not even good quality bread. :(
But how can they not serve cous cous with their entrees anymore? If you want a small side of cous cous, they now charge you $5-6 -
Review from Yvonne M.
San Diego, CA
11/28/2011
Wow!! such awesome food I had tonight!! Had some family in town & wanted to go somewhere delicious and found this place on yelp. such an great little place in hillcrest, don't know any Moroccan place and the min I walked in I loved the place. half the restaurant is more like casual sit down where the front half has cute couches and pillows more Moroccan style so If its a busy night I'd make a reservation, we got lucky its a slow Monday night there was hardly anyone in there.
Their Happy hour is from 5-6pm and I believe 10-11pm... I ABSOLUTELY recommend trying to go at those time bc is %50 ALL app & Kabbobs and ALL alcoholic beverages.
we had: Zaalouk:The egg plant spread on pita- so delicious
Tomato & cucumber salad w/pita -great & lite
The B'stilla Rolls- baked stuff chicken thing - great stuffed pastry
Chicken Kabobs- so juicy & tender!!!
Ahi tuna kabos- omg great flavor and texture
and the lamb Shanks-awesome!!!!
I can't wait to go back, the waiter was great described everything sooooo good that it all sounded so delicious and we had the strawberry&orange fruit dessert, its just fruit w/a cinnamon mixure on top its very tasty but really is just fruit we loved it though its exactly what we needed fresh lite dessert.. oh and their mint is is sweet minty sooo good!!!! -
Review from Morgan S.
Chula Vista, CA
12/4/2011
This place is fantastic.
The happy hour is great and the food will knock you out.
It is literally impossible to not enjoy yourself.
The staff is great [and the drinks are cheap]. I'd definitely recommend speaking to the owner; he is such a fun and friendly guy.
Enjoy!! -
Review from Jerrad R.
San Diego, CA
11/11/2011
I went to Kous Kous becuase of the great reviews on Yelp. We were greeted after the waiter finished opening a box in the lobby. The waiter (Grant?) was friendly and attentive.
I found the atmosphere too dark to read the menu comfortably and there was a random movie playing on a big screen at the end of the restaurant.
Both major disappointments. I don't go to restaurant to watch an old movie.
The appetizer of chopped tomatoes, blue cheese, olives and lettuce was good.
The waiter recommend the shrimp and cod tangine which sounds good since I could easily read the menu. The rice was cold, the fish was two bites and there were about 6 shrimp.
I was very disappointed in everything except the waiter - who was totally cute. -
Review from Mona W.
What an amazing great find! This place is a true gem. Dined here on the Christmas night and they offered their regular menu with none of the silly overpriced pre fixe menu nonsense.
Love the food. Love every single items I have ordered.
Vegetarian Small Plates Full Sampler (4/5 Stars) - Vegetarian or not, all the dips were excellent. The pita bread was great.
B'stila roll (5/5 Stars) - Phylo was paper thin and very crispy. The roll was overloaded with fillings. An absolutely amazing dish!
Merguez (5/5 Stars) - Very tender and flavorful lamb sausage. A must try for lamb lovers.
Lamb Briouates M'Diourates (3.5/5 Stars) - A little coarse compare to the B'stila roll but the lamb filling was delicious despite being a bit gamey.
Beef Bochette (4/5 Stars) - I wish there were more. That's all.
Lamb Shank Tagine (5/5 Stars) - Very tender lamb shank with a sinfully rich but non overwhelming sauce. Love the texture and the taste. One of the better lamb shank dish I have had.
Dinner is tapas style. All dishes are meant to be shared. The dining room is very comfortable and a bit unconventional. Imagine sitting on a sofa while munching on the delicious pita bread and slowly devouring some lamb sausages. The decor is full of character. Both tasteful and fun.
Save room for some mint tea after dinner. Your meal won't be complete without some.
