Cafe Lili

I should’ve given him 5 star, but he said , no chicken shawarma. Other than 5 star. Very friendly gentleman running this restaurant. Their coffee is phenomenal . Very aromatic pre made kind. V clean and v nice clientele with friends and families. I would recommend for quick or leisure time .

Just had the most amazing meal at Cafe Lili! The beef and rice dishes were mouthwatering, the side of rice was so addicting and flavorful and the rice dessert with pistachio topping was the perfect amount of sweetness to end the meal with. Haven’t had food this good in a long time! The service was super welcoming and attentive. It's a family-run place, and they really make you feel at home. More people need to check this place out! 10/10

First timer and young man at the counter was very professional and suggested great items. I'm never a fan of the grape leaves but these have meat inside and I couldn't believe I ate a half dozen. The meat and spinach pies were also great! I'll definitely be back!

What a great experience. I was told the meatloaf tastes like grandma’s and it did with great flavor, but I also felt like I was back at grandma’s place! The took great care of us with comfortable service and an eagerness to showcase their culinary view of the world! I could honestly eat just a plate of those meat pies and the salad was divine and packed with fresh veggies and wonderful seasoning. I honestly can’t wait to get back there and try more. Home Run!

Cafe Lili is a great place to eat Lebanese and Middle-Eastern food! Come solo or with the whole family and enjoy the delicious Lebanese home cooking like my mom's cooking. The food is well flavored, the prices are good, and the service is good. When ever you're in Houston, this is a must stop.

My favorite Lebanese food Service is amazing. I have been going to this restaurant for 26 years. Love it Homemade taste

So I walked in and the place seemed empty it was crazy but there was a reason why I was empty most people go out to eat there during lunch time and it is pack at dinner time is very few people The food is excellent tastes really good I'm very impressed and the gentleman Ian I believe his name is was outstanding super cool smiling and he seemed like it really enjoy what he does and not really is what sold me his smile and was happy to serve and to help out and you ask him a question and he was smiling as he was asking a question food is exceptional I highly recommend to come to this place and yeah you should try it any given time prices are very fair I have tried another falafel and around the corner and it was not a good experience but this place is definitely a good good place super clean the kitchen is super spotless it's amazing so five stars to Cafe Lily

We saw a tv show touting Lili and our foodie tax lady told us we needed to visit, glad we did. We loved the fried kibbe, looks like a little football, the outside is made with beef and cracked wheat and the inside is filled with ground chuck beef, onion and roasted pine nuts, then deep fried....everything we had was tasty but these for me, were the best. We enjoyed a kofta kabob plate from the lunch menu. two pieces of ground beef with parsley and onion mixed in....grilled to perfection. This came with a pile of flavorful rice and pickled onions. You have a choice of hummus or a side salad, wifey and i enjoyed the hummus...the only thing average was the pita bread. The Turkish coffee was strong and very much to my liking, my wife not so much which was not surprising since she's not into strong coffee. She spotted some Lebanese wine and snagged a bottle for our son and a friend. Well worth a stop on my personal foodie bucket list and a speedy return for more goodies.

Always wonderful!! Worth the drive from Spring! I can't get there as often as I like but if I'm ever remotely close, I'm eating at Cafe Lili!

You lost if you didn't stop by Cafe Lili today to get the stuffed squash special. Absolutely delicious! We go here regularly for lunch and it never disappoints!

Hungry so stopped by for quick lunch in the galleria. Large indoor space and ample patio dining. Chicken sandwich was tasty with juicy chicken and it was nice and warm. The fries are more big potato wedges but also fine Casual, clean bathrooms, full stomach Recommended if you are close by! Pricing is $17.58

Despite a call the evening before, when we drove for an hour to get to Cafe Lili the following evening we were told shoe to a private party there was no dine-in. We had already noticed a decline in service during prior visits. This experience was the worst. Won't be back anytime soon.

They have a great menu, great dishes, great food (as close as you can get to the real authentic Lebanese dishes), great service, and very clean bathrooms. This is very important to me and tells me a whole lot about the place. They deserve my 5-star rating. The price is a bit on the high side compared to other Mediterranean restaurants but it is still worth it. I recommend it. Their special dishes that are not on the menus are served on specific days of the week. You may need to inquire about them. This place is run and operated by the owners and that's what makes it good!!

Just ordered delivery from this place tonight. Food was decent. But the price. Oh the price. As a fellow Lebanese guy, the prices here are outrageous. How is an order of kibbeh $5? That's a WILD ripoff. And the shawarma was 65% of the size it should have been. I grew up on this food. I know what I am talking about, and honestly, so do they. The food tasted fine but the cost does not justify it.

Loved the kibbe and coffee, wish I had ordered more kibbe. Very friendly staff. Will be back!

Very good place to eat in the morning unbelievable taste restaurant very for the get up getting meals I love it here Westheimer place near galleria area I'll recommend all people or neighborhood to visit here at the Lebanese Grill is very easy to get here to find this place to eat only could say wow what a meal.

Incredible food and service. My first time there and I can't wait to go back. We got the chicken and beef Kaman's, Lima beans, taboulleh salad. It was fresh and tasty!

This restaurant WAS a good place to have Mediterranean food. I have been away from this place for over four years and the food quality has gone deteriorated. Chicken kabobs were dry, baba ghanoush was so grainy and tasted nothing like what it used to be. Falafel sandwich came with no sauce (taratour) ....etc. do not recommend any longer.

Love the family owned business! Been a customer for years and that will remain the same as the food is already prepared at a high level that you can taste in the dishes. The ambiance is filled with kind regulars and the employees are great! Recommend getting the chicken kabobs with fattoush salad, garlic sauce, and hummus, you won't regret it!

One of my Houston favs! Hands down the best Hummus and Baba Ghanoush and olive oil. This time I got a chicken kebab with rice and hummus with a lemonade. Everything is so high quality and served very fresh. There's lots of seating and is usually pretty quiet. Try the Lebanese lemonade, amazing! Thanks Cafe Lili.

Had a wonderful salad. Went with a friend and he had a great sandwich. planning to go back tomorrow night to take an out of town guest!!!

I haven't had a lot of Lebanese food in my culinary adventures. This Mediterranean cuisine is very light and refreshing. My wife and I shared the chicken with a plate of hummus. The fried kibble were out of this world delicious. We went right around opening and place was pretty bare. By the time we finished to leave the place was packed with a hopping lunch crowd. Super clean and well run. Highly recommend.

If you are Lebanese and eating at this restaurant you know the food is really bad every single items we order it shouldn't be served it's burnt , dry and no flavor what so ever

My buddy was hyping Cafe Lili up and it did not disappoint. I have never had Lebanese food before but I can say that I am definitely a fan now. The fried kibbie was delicious and full of beef, spices, and pine nuts. You can never go wrong with anything stuffed with cheese so the cheese pie was automatically a winner in my books. I ordered the steak kabob half order and it came with five slices of pita bread and a side of hummus. Both were perfect. My buddy got the side salad with his kabobs and that portion was huge! It could pass as an entree at most restaurants. I loved how tender my steak kabobs were and the vermicelli rice was so delicious. Overall I can understand why Guy Fieri chose to visit this restaurant!

Great food and service, I had chicken and rice was great and flavorful. they allowed my pet in patio area Restaurant was very clean

The soup was delicious! Chocolate was a surprise. Loved the main course, and the salad was perfect. The veggies made an elephant's head! Desert was great, but the cinnamon roll was a little spongey and the ice cream still frozen hard.

This place is an absolute Gem! We randomly stopped here for lunch. We ordered stuffed grape leaves and fried cauliflower to start. Both were very delicious. Then we ordered the cabbage salad and Kabobs for our entree. Literally everything was fresh and flavorful. Will definitely return again.

Cafe Lili is an excellent choice for anyone seeking delicious and authentic Lebanese cuisine in Houston. They are located in a strip center off Westheimer, right next to one of the last James Coney Islands in town, near the Galleria. They offer both sidewalk cafe table seating as well as an expansive indoor dining area. You walk in and order at the counter, then wait for your food to be made and served tableside. The staff has always been beyond welcoming and helpful. If you don't know what to order, or what exactly something is that's listed on the menu, they're happy to step in and help you figure things out. There's never been a lengthy wait time, and can't recall any other issues with service. The food covers many Lebanese staples as well as other Mediterranean go to's. Tabouli, Hummus, Greek salad, Turkish coffee, Falafel, kabobs, Lebneh, stuffed grape leaves, schwarma, meat pies, and so much more. Also, their lamb chops are fantastic when available. It's also important to note that they have a rotating special, so make sure to keep an eye out on what's being offered that day. All in all, Cafe Lili is high up on our list of options for Mediterranean fare, and our #1 for Lebanese in Houston.

Amazing spot for some delicious Lebanese Mediterranean food. Very friendly staff and quick with their service. Tried it twice already. And will definitely come by again when I'm visiting Houston again.

Excellent food. Beautiful preparation. Very tasty. Super service. Highly recommend. Absolutely will go back.

Want some fantastic, legit, & deliciousMiddle Eastern food in Houston? This is a good choice if so. I've lived in the Middle East for a couple of years and spent many days there on business. I know Middle Eastern food. The food at Cafe Lili's would please the palate of any resident of the Middle East. It definitely pleased mine. The kibbeh were magnificently spiced with a healthy bit of beef inside. My wife's falafel was delicious and my beef shawarma was the proverbial bombdiggety. Shukran jaziilan wa laziz awi!

If you want delicious food, and not the usual chicken, steak, barbeque or Mexican, then Cafe Lili is a great choice! They catered our daughter's wedding at a venue in Montgomery County and cooked onsite with their giant grill! The smells, the food, amazing and it tasted even better than it looked, yummy! It was a big hit, our guests loved it! The owners, Eli and Rita are absolute professionals, along with their staff!!!

Loved this place!! We had the spinach pie, kafta kebab, stuffed grape leaves and feta salad. The feta salad was the best part in my opinion, but it was all fantastic. Cute ambiance and server was great. Will absolutely be coming back.

Hummus and the eggplant spear were exquisite, however, the chicken was ruined by the large amount of cinnamon

I LOVE Lebanese cuisine and Cafe Lili never disappoints! Their menu is simple and I've yet to try anything not worth recommending to friends and family! A special #ThankYouThursday mention to this establishment for providing the community with authentic delicious Lebanese cuisine. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable of the menu items so don't hesitate to ask questions if you're undecided! They are enforcing social distancing and following safety guidelines for customers and employees. The food is amazing and there's plenty of sitting space! I recommend this place to anyone who wants to experience an explosion of wonderful flavors from Lebanon!

Amazing food as they have had for the last 20+years! I had the Redfish special, and it was delicious. The Greek salad was also very good, alongside the hummus. Don't forget to have dessert and the turkish coffee before you leave. Very clean kitchen and bathrooms.

We had lunch here and loved it! The customer service was great and we got our food quickly. We ordered a ton of food and loved everything we got. At the end of the meal, they even offered to try some of their complimentary coffee. I definitely recommend trying this place out!

Cafe Lili is amazing! I have come here off and on for 15 years. Food is always amazing and consistently delicious. It's a family owned business And the son Eli always remembers me when I come in even after so many years. It's very clean. Very delicious, and a very casual and friendly atmosphere. My all-time favorite dish that I get every time is the Cafe Lili salad

We've been here several times and always enjoy it. Very good Mediterranean food. Very good hummus and kabobs. One thing that surprised me last time we went is that you now have to order from the counter -- the prices feel too high for that level of service.

Great experience, everything tastes homemade, with fresh ingredients. 35 years in business and the restaurant looks brand new, very clean. I tried the daily homemade special very unique and great tasting stuffed cabbage. The falafel appetizer was boldly flavored and paired well with the homemade sauce. We also opted for the homemade lemonade that was well balanced in sweetness and tart.

Thank you DDD for leading me to this establishment!! I came for lunch today and enjoyed every moment. Starting with a restroom break, the facilities had just been cleaned and were private from the rest of the restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. A kind older gentleman delicately set my table and said that I should let him know if I need anything throughout my meal. Absolutely precious. The fried kibbie was delectable. It really takes fried food to a whole new level. Sweet - savory - soft - crunchy. Chicken kabob also lovely. I cut the chicken with my fork. I REPEAT, I cut the chicken with my fork. So. Tender. The garlic sauce, yes. The rice, yes. The hummus, yes. The option of both soft and crunchy pita, yes. Prices are very fair for the quality of food and service. Can't wait to return. Shukraan, Cafe Lili

Real taste if Lebanon in Houston. Wonderfully flavored kebabs and Hummus. Their specialty dishes like the meat pie is authentic. Come and enjoy.

Went here yesterday for lunch as I was starving and Lebanese food sounded so good at that time. I walked in and I was greeted by the smell of garlic and spices. The man at the counter was nice, but not that welcoming at first. He quickly told me the specials and I told him I would think about it and check out the menu. I then asked for the specials again and asked him what kind of meat was in the meat loaf. He told me "meat" and I asked him what kind and he told me "meatloaf meat". He then told me he thinks it may have beef and pork in it. He then explains to me that it is meatloaf. I then told him that I thought it may have a different kind of meat as it was Lebanese food, but he did not seem to understand this, so I decided to just order the chicken kabab, which came with rice and a choice of salad or hummus. I decided to get the salad. I grabbed some water, my number, and sat down. There is a large area with several tables in the front and on the side and in the back. My food was brought out and I was sadly disappointed to see little food on my plate. This was especially the case with my chicken kabob. It was one kabob with only five pieces of chicken on it. The chicken was grilled very well and soft on the inside. However, it was not very well seasoned and was dry. I decided to try some of the bread and it was a little dry and hard too. The best part of the meal was actually the salad. It had tons of tomatoes, feta, and overall it was just delicious. I think I could have skipped the main entree and just had the salad. While I waited for my food to settle a man walked around and gave out Turkish coffee in small 2 oz cups. The coffee was a deep rich dark chocolate color and it was super strong and heavy. It had a very unique taste! So much so that I got two cups. Overall the food was just okay. I do not really see myself returning as there are other Lebanese restaurants that give you more food and have more flavor in their food. The gentleman behind the counter was more welcoming as I left, but not enough to make me return. He did agree that the bread was dry and hard though.

The food at Cafe Lili remains the best Lebanese food you will likely find in any restaurant -- far and away the best in Houston. However, Lili and Eli Sr.'s presence in the restaurant is sorely missed these days. Kudos to the kitchen and staff for keeping such consistent quality over the years.

Update to include threatening message from owners son. My original review and pictures were before the vaccine roll out. A better approach would be a promise to commit to the health of the community.

Great food. Always very good. Kibbeh is the best in Houston I believe. Service is OK, not bad.

We saw a tv show touting Lili and our foodie tax lady told us we needed to visit, glad we did. We loved the fried kibbe, looks like a little football, the outside is made with beef and cracked wheat and the inside is filled with ground chuck beef, onion and roasted pine nuts, then deep fried....everything we had was tasty but these for me, were the best. We enjoyed a kofta kabob plate from the lunch menu. two pieces of ground beef with parsley and onion mixed in....grilled to perfection. This came with a pile of flavorful rice and pickled onions. You have a choice of hummus or a side salad, wifey and i enjoyed the hummus...the only thing average was the pita bread. The Turkish coffee was strong and very much to my liking, my wife not so much which was not surprising since she's not into strong coffee. She spotted some Lebanese wine and snagged a bottle for our son and a friend. Well worth a stop on my personal foodie bucket list and a speedy return for more goodies.

Cafe Lili has always been our go to for Lebanese food as it reminds us of the dishes our grandmother and mother prepared. The restaurant is spotless and the dishes are made with high quality/fresh ingredients. Eli (young or old) is at the register and they always welcome us like family! Regardless of eating chicken/rice; red fish; rolled grape leaves or falafel, you cannot go wrong. Definitely one of our all time favorite places to eat.

Literally everything about this place is good. Even leftovers are top notch. It's authentic Beiruti cuisine. The hummus is out of this world. And the lebneh is just mouthwatering. I love it so much

The place is located is a shopping center where it get jam pack during the lunch hours. I went there because the reviews on yelp. Self serve counter top, you ordered they give you the number and they bring you the food. The service is friendly and there are plenty of places to sit. I ordered the beef kabob and it come with rice and salad and some bread.The bread come in a plastic bag, which is blah and a big turn off to you. The salad was OK, but the kabob and rice was on the small portion for the price, and the food tasted ok, nothing special to jump up at you. The spices is rather dull for Lebanese food. They took forever to come out too, when we were there they were not that busy. This visit was underwhelm and a big disappointment. Maybe it is an off day, but it would not be my choice for Lebanese food for while.

WORTH THE DRIVE to try this DDD-place we saw featured on Food Network. The space is open and welcoming, staff is knowledgeable and friendly, service and quick and efficient, and the food is DELICIOUS!! We started with appetizers of hummus, fried cauliflower, falafel and fried kibbe. The hummus arrives without a traditional splash of olive oil, which is provided in a bottle at the table so each person can add oil to their taste. The oil was amazing by itself: fresh and peppery (AKA "the good stuff"), and when added to the hummus really elevated the dish. Fried cauliflower was done perfectly - crispy and brown on the edges and firm yet soft in the center. Yum!! But the stars of the appetiser round were the fresh made falafel and the kibbe. We love falafel, and can tell when it's made from a dry mix and dry spices. This falafel is made fresh in house, and fried perfectly. It served dressed with slivered radishes, fresh cilantro, and thick slices of tomato. This appetizer is enough for a light, delicious lunch. The kibbe (Guy ate it on his visit) was definitely made with love and care. We could taste the fresh crowd cloves and spices in the meat filling. We love kibbe, and these were just perfect. We also ordered chicken kabobs, and subbed a delicious cucumber and yogurt salad for the hummus that would have come with the dish (since we ordered hummus as an appetizer). The chicken was tender, moist, and deliciously marinated in lemon and garlic, with a nice flavor from the grill. The cucumber salad was similarly delicious - tangy, chunky, cooling, and savoury. I'm going to try to make something like this at home. Yum :) After the meal we enjoyed a piece of delicious house-made baklava and complimentary Turkish coffee with cardamom. It was a perfect end to a delightful meal. 5 authentic stars

Delicious. Had the falafel sandwich with fries. Falafel was really good and there were a lot of fries. My husband had the kibbeh and beef schwarma sandwich. Absolutely delicious. Authentic middle eastern food.

A few months ago we had Thai food next door and thought we give this place a try. So disappointed! We've had much better middle eastern food...We do not recommend this place!! One star for the $2.49 cheese pie, another star for the grill chicken. Overall there's no value for the money. We usually go to Mezza Grill and Yia Yia Mary's Pappas Restaurant chain for Mediterranean food, they never disappoint us. Minus stars: The grape leave wrap w/meat & rice was awful...they're pre made in a display refrigerator at the front of the restaurant and the waitress/waiter heat them in the microwave. The temperature was lukewarm. These grape leave wraps was hard, no flavor at all. I told the waitress it was awful and instead of asking why? She said to try something else next time. The soup of the day (Green Lentil) smell like canned dog food. There's no seasoning in the soup at all...no garlic, no black pepper? The free flat bread is better off for the rats/birds. The pink pickle was horrible...Must be a halloween joke?

This place is special to me and my family. Great owners that really care out their food and guests. This is one of 2 places I will ever eat kibbeh nayyeh, or raw kibbeh. It is prepared properly and seasoned delicious. I have not once in my years eating here had an issue. Everything on the menu is delicious and they even compliment you with a hot drink after the meal. As a middle eastern you can list the best quality/authentic restaurants for Mediterranean on one hand in Houston. This will always be one of the top!

I was looking for today's lunch.I found here on American Airlines Dining Website.I went to visit the restaurant's website.I ordered chicken kabab online.I would like to say three good things. 1.Quick service.When I arrived here at 1pm, the food was ready.Great job. 2.I ate ir.It was great.I loved it! 3.The location is great.It's located in 5 minutes from my home. I would like to write some of the improvements. -The prices are little bit high.I paid $13.(No tip).It should be lower. Overall, I love this restaurant.Hope to return.

Cafe Lili is such a cute and casual restaurant off the Westheimer strip. Walk in, and you're immediately greeted by the owner behind the register. Know that this place stays busy during lunchtime, hence the large cushioned seating for those, so dine here in a small group (I'd say no more than four) and don't arrive starving - like we did. You'll also notice a lot of other Middle Eastern diners, which is always a great sign. Food must be good, no? Now I'm not an expert on Lebanese cuisine, but I do know that the fried cauliflower here is something every patron should try at least once. I like cauliflower - I like all veggies - but this was a flavor and texture I didn't expect. High five to my table-mates for sharing with me. And their dolmades? Best I've tried in town; they're small and tightly wrapped and sprinkled with meat; they're not over-spiced (like at Istanbul - though that's Turkish); and they're not covered in a tangy creamy sauce (like at One's A Meal, though that's Greek). They're juuuuust right. This time around, I tried the day's special - kibbeh - only because it came with cucumber and yogurt salad. I can eat that stuff daily. And it's good for ya too. The kibbeh was good, though not something I'd frequently crave. The owners are really friendly, as they kept on apologizing for the long wait. Hey, that's what happens when you roll deep. Except this one party of four decided to use their table for eight for a post-lunch meeting. I finally worked up the nerve to ask them to move to a smaller table so that our group could finally order and eat. Note to people who do this at restaurants during peak lunch hour: Save that for Starbucks or some other coffee house. Or at least don't hog a large table. This isn't the Cafe's fault, I just thought I'd point that out. I'll be sure to drop in again and try some of those kebabs. That bread looked too damn delicious.

While I love Cafe Lili's food, the service neglect in packing the order. Ordered 4 falafel appetizers which should have a pack of bread for each order. When I called to share my order was not complete, was only told "sorry". Make sure your order is complete.