Empire Turkish Grill

Unfortunately, this place was below my standards. Lamb sis kebab and adana kebab were pretty good but anything else were pretty disappointing. Iskender kebab was horrible, including the taste of beef and yogurt, very little tomato sauce and butter. When it comes to cold appetizers (soguk meze), hummus and cacik were good, patlican soslu, babaganus and ezme were decent, yaprak sarma was terrible… The shape of yaprak sarma is not even close, leading me to question if chef knows Turkish cuisine at all. I would recommend only to get sis kebab and adana kebab, nothing else. For context, I have lived in Turkey for 6 years, so I am pretty accustomed to the Turkish cuisine.

While the restaurant is very loud inside the food is delicious. Flavors so super fresh and every taste is like a bit of home cooking. Baklava was extremely tasty!! Service was very nice. We enjoyed it very much.

A friend recommended this place and 100% understand why. Food was amazing, staff super friendly, and prices very reasonable. The only bad thing is I couldn’t stop eating because everything was so delicious! (Had falafel appetizer, Shepherd salad, Empires mixed grill and keskul, came with complimentary fresh baked bread)

Excellent Turkish food with friendly service. Reasonably priced and offers great lunch deals. Adana kebab and lentil soup is a must try.

This was my first time here, and it instantly became one of my favorite spots. The food was absolutely delicious — we tried the Adana Kebab, Iskender Kebab, and Doner Kebab, and each one was amazing. The flavors were rich and authentic. We also had some desserts and turkish tea, and they were the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The service was excellent too — the staff were friendly, and we got our food surprisingly fast. I’ll definitely be coming back!

we went for Iftar, everythibg was delicious as always ! we haven't been in a while so we missed it and it was avery good reminder of the delicious flavors to go more often even though its a bit of a drive for us! we loved the remodeling of the place very simple, clean and nice, service was wuick as well considering the fact that mostly everyone there was for iftar and trying to eat st the same time, they were very well practiced for that, they had a very good crowd for a tuesday night! to anyone that hasn't tired it we highly recommend it, one of the best turkish restaurants in houston!

We had dinner there yesterday. This was my third time going here. While the ambiance was still nice earlier when I went. They have made renovations which make it look even more nice. The food and environment both are amazing. The servers are friendly and courteous. Would highly recommend this place to eat or take your guests too. The prices are reasonable especially with the quantity of food they serve.

Really great Turkish food and great ambiance. We went later in the evening and though it looks like they closed up before closing time we didn’t feel rushed through out our meal. The food was fantastic they had a decent wine selection and the atmosphere was great.

Lamb sis kebab 5/5 Red lentil soup 5/5 I visited here because I was told this is the best Turkish food in town and honestly, I don't think that is a stretch. I came during lunch time and this place has an awesome lunch special for an appetizer and an entree. I got the red lentil soup, and wow - the soup was warm, flavorful and smooth like a warm hug. The lamb kebabs are tender and my favorite part of the dish is that there is an actually a good amount of veggies of in the plate compared to a lot of other similar dishes I have had in other restaurants. Our waiters are super friendly and food came out really fast and there is plenty of parking outside the restaurant so I am excited to come back and try more dishes here!

I came here with my Persian coworker (she lived in both Iran and Turkey) and she recommended this place (it's one of her faves). The meat was super tender. I've had better rice at other spots but this was still alright. The portion wasn't as huge as other spots either. The star of the show though was the manti (dumplings). They were flavorful, creamy, juicy, moist and so addicting. The staff was nice and we had good service. What I didn't like was the outdoor seating was right outside the door and right by our windows so we smelled all the cigarette smoke.

Came with my work crew ! No wait during lunch not many people there . But the food was delicious. First time having red lentil soup I'm a fan! Food was good portions especially for lunch ! The place was lightly decorated nothing over the top

This place is very celiac friendly. They have a gluten free menu that explains that is and isn't safe at the restaurant. There were many options available which made me confident in ordering. Tried the ground chicken kebab and this is probably my favorite kebab in all of Houston now. Suggest dining on a weekday evening as there is not too much of a crowd and everything comes out quickly. Will be back!

Empire Turkish Grill is one of my go-to places whenever I'm on that side of town. My favorite meal here is the red lentil soup, stuffed cabbage rolls, and shepherd salad. This meal is unlike anything I can find anywhere else, and it's always fantastic. The flavors are fresh, authentic, and consistently delicious. I do wish the place was a little more updated inside, but I absolutely love it--highly recommend!

The restaurant is located on a strip mall, thus there is ample parking. Outside, there are alfresco seatings. Inside, there are a good number of tables for big and small groups. I had the red lentil soup, and filet mignon kebab from the lunch menu. I also had the iskender kebab from the regular menu. To end my meal, I had 3 desserts - baklava, keskul (milk pudding with almonds), and firinda sutlac (baked rice pudding). The red lentil soup was served with a wedge of lemon. I was surprised, but still went ahead to squeeze some lemon juice into the soup. The before and after taste of the soup was noticeably better! The lemon juice added extra acidity and a refreshing taste to the soup. Yummy! The filet mignon kebab was tender, seasoned and cooked well. Even the bed of rice was delicious! Iskender kebab was very delicious. The thinly sliced lamb kebab was so good, so tender. The cold yogurt paired well with the dish. All the desserts were scrumptious. The filo pastry from the baklava was flaky. The crushed nuts and honey syrup were so great together with the pastry. The keskul was light, and the crumbled almonds added texture to the smooth dessert. The firinda sutlac was a super good cold dessert. It was creamy, light, and I love the top layer which had a strong milky taste. Service was great. Staff were attentive, polite and friendly. I had a great meal here and would come back again.

Best Turkish restaurant in Houston in my opinion! Their appetizer sampler was amazing! Everything we got was delish!!

Food - Good (not spicy) Cost - average Location - Nice Service - Slow The restaurant is clean and there is ample parking space. The salad and bread were very good along with awesome desert. The late lunch concluded with tea and a smile.

Low key style with amazing Turkish food. 100% halal certified and great service. I cannot believe I did not know about this place at 12448 Memorial since I have driven past it a dozen or more times. Their ground chicken kebab aka Tavuk Adana Kebab is served perfectly seasoned with rice and vegetables Favorite sides are the Babagganus eggplant spread puréed with tahini and garlic. And Yaprak Saran aka grape leaves stuffed with rice , Pine Nuts and raisin and parsley are some of the best in town. It is so good and their homemade flat breads are equally good. Their takeout service is fast and customer service top notch. Parking is easy in and out . Will be back again soon.

Good authentic Turkish food, ambience and service is adequate , and could improve. prices are reasonable.

We had a reservation and our table was not ready - busy place. Food is served fresh along with the Turkish tea. Turkish cuisine is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. From savory kebabs to rich baklava, each dish offers a unique taste of Turkey's culinary heritage. The use of fresh herbs, spices, and quality ingredients adds depth to their diverse offerings. Whether you try the iconic doner kebab, indulge in mezes, or savor the sweetness of Turkish delight, the vibrant and delicious experience is a testament to the country's gastronomic richness.

My coworker who lived in Turkey for many years recommended this spot to me. It is a bit tucked away with little boutiques around it and space for outdoor seating. A hidden gem! All tables had tablecloths - something that is getting rare I think. Everyone in our party loved the food and we all agree we will go back again. The desserts may have been my favorite part. Especially the Keskul.

The most I can say about this place is that the restaurant and restroom are both very clean. We were promptly greeted and seated, asked if we were familiar with Turkish food. Yes, we are. There were no other diners eating there. This must have been Turkish food minus Turkish flavor. It was bland and overpriced. The wrap was most likely a packaged tortilla from Publix. Truly disappointed by my experience.

This place is one of best Turkish food in town... the place is low key, but very charming. It has indoors and outdoors dinning. They have limited space outside, but inside the fit about 20 tables, for parties of 4. The have a good deal for lunches, see picture. The food was very tasty, fresh and authentic. Service is bilingual (English and Turkish), and attentive. The service was very fast. Bathrooms were gendered and clean. You should certainty safe space for the dessert and tea!

So yummy, it was my first time going there and we got the steak kabob with rice. It comes with salad and soda as well! The food came out in a timely manner the place was very ethnic and quiet. They had warm bread and it was delicious

Absolutely adore this place and alllllll of the servers there! My hubby is Turkish so I'm partial to Turkish places, but this one beats them all! I love the food, and the customer service is always great! Also if you've never had Kunefe this place has the best one I've tried! I'm a fan of their lunch specials because it's actually a good amount of food at almost half the price! The cabbage rolls are my favorite! The mixed grill is great for a family style meal, but in general it's a lot of food! The ambiance is great and you don't feel pressured to hurry up and go! Sometimes they do get busy and you will have to be patient, but good food is worth waiting for!

The bread that comes to the table is crazy good. Fluffy, fresh, full of sesame seeds. That alone made the trip worth it. Yes it's located in a strip mall, but this is Houston. What else would you expect? The interior ambiance is nice enough that you forget the strip mall aspect. And at least the parking lot is free. The appetizer sampler was all around very good, though I wish the babaganouj had more smokey flavor and a silkier texture. But fantastic for the price all around.

Good food and amazing service. I recommend you get the cold appetizers as the varieties are great. The atmosphere also really great for talking. Definitely good place for crowd too.

Another great find in a small local strip shopping area. If you weren't told about it you'd most likely drive right by... well I'm here to tell you this is a place you should seek out! We came with a coworker from my wife's work and he is Turkish. He picked this place so you know it is authentic and good. The place it's self is not a lot to look at but the food is ohhhh my Goddie tooo Hottie good! We got a mixed appetizer plate to start and some liver... the liver was not bad, but not something I would order again. The rest was a mix of meat and cheese and bread and it was fantastic! Our main meal was a mix of of about 6 different things... including kabob and I can say it was all waaaaaay good. My kids loved it as well and we all ate like kings! Service was good... always there but not overly attentive. They didn't rush us at all. The food was GREAT! The service was good but the location could use a bit of an upgrade. However the food makes it more then worth it! It was a delightful evening for sure.

This place is one of best Turkish food in Houston. They have great lunch specials. The restaurant is a lot better than other Turkish restaurants Ive tried. The food is always fresh. The service is great!! You should certain save space for the desert!!

Went there for lunch and it did not disappoint. The red lentil soup and stuffed cabbage rolls were on point. It was my first time visiting the restaurant and I will recommend it to others.

It's been a few years since the last time I was here. I was much happier with the food this time and thought the service was a lot better. Pretty decent lunch for under $15 given that prices everywhere else have gone up and these have remained the same. I also enjoyed the included hot tea.

This place is ALWAYS yummy. The red lentil soup is warming and nurturing on a cold windy day!! (Squeeze of lemon brings out the flavors) The Turkish dumplings are filled with flavor and easy to share since they're mini. I saw a lot of reviews about bad service, which is a shame because they do a great job and the staff is attentive and friendly. This is a place where they don't come check on you every five minutes, so if you need something you'll have to speak up. Definitely check them out if you're a fan of deliciousness and in the memorial/town and country area!!

I ordered the Lamb kebobs and found them to be delicious. We were not rushed and had a fine dining experience plus hot tea after the meal. Recommend

Food was good. The lentil soup with kebabs were great. Ambiance and seating are decent can be made better.

Delicious Turkish food that is high quality consistently . And it's so close to home I would not go anywhere else for Turkish food. Ambiance is not the draw here but the food and value is!!

Food was very tasty but the service was not the best. Overall would come here again as the quaint neighborhood atmosphere is pretty awesome

I go here often with my Yoga group. I have food allergies. Alex always takes care in placing my order. Great food, Great Service and Great ambiance. Excellent!!

The old Lantern Lane location is now more accessible, so we dropped in with another couple to renew our acquaintance with Empire Turkish Grill. Still solid after all these years. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed the service and the food. The cabbage rolls are still standouts but the eggplant stuffed with lamb was good as well. This place is as good an example of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" as you can find. We all agreed that we will return soon, especially now that the Memorial Drive construction seems to be winding down.

Y'all. I can't say enough good things. If I could, I would give Empire 6/5 stars! The vibe of the restaurant is comfy, meaning you feel like you have been transported to someone's house and are about to experience their home-cooked meal. It is refreshing and calm inside with roomy seating and soft Turkish music playing through the speakers. You can even hear the chefs preparing meals coming from the kitchen. The waitress was very attentive and kind. For an appetizer, I had the cheese rolls and beynak petir (feta cheese with vegetables). The cheese was enjoyably tangy and balanced the vegetables well. They were served with bread and seasoned dipping oil. Let me just say this is some of the best bread I have ever had! It is fluffy, not thick with a hard crust, yet a soft consistency inside. The main course arrived (kebab combination for two) with everything perfectly seasoned. The meat (lamb) was juicy and paired well with the onions, lettuce, grilled tomato, and rice. Empire Turkish Grill is an example of a restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere that surprises you with photo worthy plates exploding with flavor and color. Indeed, I felt welcomed and respected and am glad to have experienced my first taste of Turkish food here. In summary, reasonably priced, beautiful presentation, delicious cuisine.

I am never disappointed in this place. The bean soup is the best!!! I ordered take out for the first time and it was perfect. Their food tastes so fresh and is presented well. Even when it's to go. Made with love. I wish I could eat there everyday!

Excellent restaurant!! We have been coming to this establishment for years and have never been disappointed. Not sure why some reviews complain about service because they have always been very good and helpful. If they're busy there might be a little wait on food but that's because it's made fresh. Prices are reasonable considering everything elsewhere is going sky high. The lunch menu even includes the drink. Not sure how long that will last considering inflation. Although we don't go often we drive 30 miles because it is well worth it! This was the first restaurant we returned to after Covid shutdown because we wanted to make sure it stayed in business. It truly is the best authentic Turkish restaurant in Houston!

Really good place! Definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for some turkish food. I recommend the grilled platter if you have 2 people.

The food at this establishment was delicious- truly some of the most balanced and delicious dishes I've had all while being inexplicably delicious. The service was stellar- with our server making the whole family smile. A perfect place to go with the people you love and enjoy life.

Authentic Turkish food! I usually come during lunch. Their prices are much more reasonable for lunch entrees than the dinner menu. -doner kebab or filet mignon kebab -manti (Turkish dumplings) -lentil soup -kunafe

Terrific Turkish food! The menu is extensive, and the only downside is that I couldn't try more. Some of our group started with the red lentil soup and really enjoyed it. I immediately dug into the warm flatbread and oil dip, which was a great start to the meal (you can - and should - ask for more bread!). The inside is spacious and decorated nicely, and the service is warm. My partner and I split the Empire Mixed Grill which is 4 meats (lamb, chicken, gyro, kebab) over rice with sides of onions, cabbage, and grilled tomato & pepper. All of the meat was juicy & flavorful (lamb was a personal fave). We took home leftovers, so although the menu says it's for 2 people, I think 3 could split this (especially if eating it with the bread). After we ate, our group enjoyed Turkish teas and coffee. There was a leisurely, comfortable pace to the meal, which was very enjoyable.

Empire is one of my go to local restaurants! I'm a huge fan of Turkish cuisine, so if you're looking for a good new place to try-then look no further! Every time I come to Empire I get a bunch of appetizers, you can't go wrong with a plate of hummus and some sautéed eggplant. They have a few different eggplant starter plates-I would highly recommend any of them!! For the main course I would recommend the Empire mixed grill or the chicken kebabs! The chicken is so flavorful and juicy and the rice and grilled veggies on the plate always pair well with the fresh chicken. The mixed grill gives a large helping of chicken, lamb gyro meat, and ground lamb. This is a big portion but the food is worth it! Everything in the platter is super tasty! The prices at Empire are extremely reasonable, especially for it's location in Memorial! Of course, for dessert you MUST try the kenafeh. This is one of the few places that I know in Houston that has a good kenafeh- this place is worth a visit if only for the kenafeh!

Since The Vid, we've been doing a lot of Delivery and Take Away from Empire. I love their food...when I get what I ordered. I cannot stress this enough -- check your order before you drive away. Two pick ups ago, they did not give my husband my Red Lentil Soup, when my spirit and my stomach really needed it. I was so very disappointed. The last time, they forgot my side order of pilaf. So, here we are on 09 02. They have Efes again! Our order looks complete. Good night!

Food was delicious.Service was excellent.I strongly recommend everyone who wants to have a good dinner

Unfortunately I was on liquid diet getting ready for surgery. But I had a bowl of red lentil soup that was amazing. I cheated a bit and tasted the ezme which I would have loved on the fresh hot bread. Turkish hot tea was great and the custard dessert with almonds inside was delish and the rolled Cheese dessert was great. They have a Great Wall of wine. I could see Turkish Yakut. I didn't see the wine list but we will be back.

Great food, reasonable prices, great service. We tried a few Turkish restaurants in the Houston area and this one is our favorite so far. We tried the doner, mixed meat platter, stuffed cabbage, manti, kunefe and they were all excellent! (plus they always have the tripe soup which is hard to find)

A must go when I go home. Comfort food. Service and food is amazing- I usually get the filet mignon but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The lentil soup and Shepard salad are great as well.

We had... App: Shepherd Salad with Feta and Bread Basket Dinner: Adana-Chicken Combo Kebab Dessert: Tea, Baklava, and Sekerpare Everything was delicious! Would go again for sure.

Appetizers were very small in portion size. Not enough to share amongst three people Entree was good, The filet steak was delicious, the gyro meat was not that good. Restaurant was clean and service was excellent. I had a good experience overall.

Despite placing our order an hour before arriving and arriving on time, the service we received from the waitress(Turkish lady) was far from satisfactory. Upon arriving ,the waitress informed us that the restaurant was out of soup ,which is disappointing given that it was lunchtime and was not particularly busy. This information should have been relayed to us earlier or at least with an apologetic tone. To make matters worse we were left waiting for an additional 20 minutes before the waitress finally brought the dishes. Her comment about being thankful that my dish came early was completely uncalled for. Her poor attitude was unacceptable and it appears that she lacked the basic customer service skills necessary for her role. I would encourage the restaurant to take steps to address the issues with their service , particularly with this particular waitress. She needs to be trained on proper customer service and reminded of the importance of a positive attitude in the service industry.

Authentic delicious yummy. Felt like mini turkiya in Houston. Great area as well the mall is so close.

Outstanding and so so vegetarian friendly! My mom loves to come here for the filet mignon kabobs but she brought me here recently and I was blown away by their lunch menu. It's over half vegetarian! The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and casual. We were seated very quickly and food arrived in less than 10 minutes. I ordered the red lentil soup and falafel. Both were excellent! The red lentil soup I feel was truly exceptional. I haven't had anything quite like it before and I'm so glad I had the chance to get it. I'll definitely be coming back for more! The falafel was also very well done, and not overly salty as some other restaurants sometimes prepare it. I would definitely recommend going for lunch to check out their lunch specials menu. I'll be back for sure to try some of their cold vegetarian appetizers. I have my eye on their sautéed eggplant next!

O.K. Turkish food, at of course semi high prices. Mercimek Corba - a little more watery than creamy but still good. Iskembe - The tripe looked old or maybe freezer burned. Not sure if I would get this here again. Couldn't finish it. Adana Kebap - I felt this dish needed more seasoning. I ate it but there was nothing to write home about. Save your loot on this one. Green beans - This was a hit; best dish of the day. They got this one figured out. If you are vegetarian order this. You won't be disappointed. Service - No issues here. Parking - No issues here either - private lot. If you are in the area try this place out. Since I was visiting Houston I will try other Turkish restaurants before coming back to this place.

I went for dinner with a group. Service was unpretentious and good. Everyone loved their food. Warm, thick toasted bread is served in a basket for everyone to enjoy. I had a healthy shepherd salad and a delicious pureed red lentil soup. Surprisingly, they let you bring alcohol as long as it's not wine or beer which they sell. They'll bring you ice on a small bucket too at no extra cost. Cool! I felt the wine by the glass was pricey at $10 and even $12. A friend ordered the Turkish Efes beer and he seemed to enjoy it. Another guy joined us from Clear Lake. He said it's worth the trip coming for the best kenefe in town. Unfortunately I didn't try it. I took off a star because they don't offer sugar cubes for your tea and the wine by the glass is more than it should be. Sugar cubes would make the experience a bit more authentic.