Pasha Turkish Restaurant

Tried Turkish food here for the first time and unfortunately, it was a letdown. The food was bland, and the service left much to be desired—they didn’t even offer water. While they brought complimentary olive oil, it had a strange taste and didn’t seem right. We ordered three lahmacuns, but they were nothing like what they should be. The doner was undercooked, and even the ayran lacked the traditional salty flavor. To top it off, the service felt rushed and unwelcoming—the waiter was practically tossing plates at us. Sadly, we left the food untouched. We saw 4.6 review but truly not worth the 4 stars.

From the moment we walked in, the hostess greeted us with such warmth, it instantly set the tone for the evening. We kicked things off with the Ciger (liver) kebab as an appetizer, and it was packed with flavor. But the real stars of the night were the Iskender and Adana kebabs. Let me just say, Pasha might have served me the best Adana kebab I’ve ever had. Perfectly seasoned, tender, and grilled to perfection. Every bite was a reminder of why I love Turkish cuisine. Big thanks to the team for the incredible hospitality and mouthwatering food. A must-visit for any kebab lover!

We went with my friend. They remember us. The place is small and has a nice tavern atmosphere. The manager is also a very gentleman. But the food is terrible. If you say rice, it's a disgrace. We ordered rice pudding but couldn't eat it. Because it had been waiting so long. It was dried up. It had gone stale. Adana kebab doesn't suit our taste. Chicken Ali Nazik tastes bad. I ordered lamb shish I only liked its taste. We ordered mixed pita bread but it tasted bad. We paid around 130$. But we couldn't eat anything so we had it packed and threw it away so as not to be rude. If you have a taste, I recommend you not to choose it.

Delicious and authentic Turkish food. The kebabs are legit as are the different bakery options. Honestly, you won't go wrong with anything off the menu here. Recommend the Turkish coffee to cap it all off.

The food is delicious and authentic! A husband and wife runs the operations and they are very friendly. Space can be limited on busy day, they accommodated our large group easily. We got the mixed grill platters and a bunch of smaller dishes including the meat stew in a clay pot. Every item we ordered was delicious! Highly recommend this place!

The best Turkish food in Houston. Adana kebab and Iskender kabab are very tasty and service is excellent. Everything felt fresh.

Good Turkish restaurant close to DT Houston. Friendly staff and calm atmosphere. Recommend

Great authentic food which made us long to be in Turkey again. Iskender done to perfection with Kunafe for dessert. When we were in Turkey, people were warm and hospitable. The owners of this restaurant do their country proud!!

Pasha Turkish restaurant in Houston recently celebrated their 20th anniversary last year, serving Turkish inspired cuisine to the neighboring Rice University community. My nephew and I had the pleasure of having an early dinner dine-in in their comfortable dining room, and we really enjoyed their great food and service. I don't ever remember going to a strictly Turkish restaurant before, but looking at the menu, soon realized it is very similar to Greek and Mediterranean food, with dishes like kebabs, falafel, and hummus. The setting is like a renovated ground floor of a large residential home, with some parking spots out in front. We had our choice of seats on one side of the restaurant. Water and Turkish bread (called bazlama), along with an olive oil dip were provided. The bread was similar to a pita bread, but a lot fluffer...very delicious and refilled as we used it along with our entree. Both of us like meat, so we ordered thdeir specialty: Pasha mixed platter for two ($37.99) consisting of five different kabobs, each with enough to sample for two - doner - lamb and beef sliced thin from a spit (like a trompo for al pastor taco) adana - lamb and beef sausage grilled on a skewer (removed before serving) chicken adana - chicken sausage lamb shish kebab - chunks of solid lamb chicken shish kebab - chunks of solid chicken All the various meats were served on a bed of rice, with grilled tomatoes, cooked red cabbage, and both white and red raw onions. It was a good amount of food. My favorite by far was the doner, and that's what I would get again and again here. The meat was sliced thinly enough for to be stuffed in the bazlama, and eaten as a sandwich. The lamb shish kebab was excellent as well, tasting very similar to a rich cut of beef. We got a late recommendation from my sister-in-law to get two spreads with our meal, which came out quickly. The hummus ($7.99) was decent, spreadable on the bread. But the star was the lebni ($7.99) ...a strained yogurt (similar to Greek) with walnuts but a lot thicker with a more mild taste...reminded me of a very fresh tzatziki. My favorite bite was one combining the doner inside a bazlama, adding cabbage and raw onion, and a large smear of lebni. It wasn't a huge amount of spread, probably enough for two people. The friendly proprietor made sure we were taken care of, and plenty of take home boxes were given for us to self pack. The adana sausages were great the next day, especially dressed with the lebni. I would group Pasha with the many excellent Mediterranean/Middle East restaurants I've tried, with a great discovery (at least for me) of getting lebni/labneh mixed in with a bit of walnut.

Dined in for lunch with a friend and I have to say this is one of the best Turkish restaurants in Houston near Rice Village/Med Center. It's family owned, the staff there are very friendly and the food/service there is impeccable. From the Hummus, to the Red Lentil soup, and their amazing Doner Kebab Entree. Of course you can't say no to their Pistachio Ice Cream and their Turkish Hot Tea!!! Will be back soon!!!

Overall, I think our meal was decent. What made it better was the excellent service and ambiance of the intimate dining room. Compared to Istanbul right around the corner, I'd prefer the dining layout here. The food to me was a solid 3/5. The manty dumplings were great but needed salt imo. The mixed grill items like the lamb and chicken breast were dry as well as the adana kebabs were also dry but very flavorful. I've had better doner meat but it's decent. I loved their babaganoush. It almost tasted cheesy to me. We had the feta pide, which was ok. Feta was dry and the egg was overcooked. Should've stuck with the cheese version. The knafe was amazing. But you'd better have an extreme sweet tooth if you order this dish. It was very crispy and superior sweetness.

I ordered the Manti entree tonight, which is one of my favorites along with the Adana and Doner dishes. It was very good and really delicious like before. The dumplings were all soft with a little bite and good meat filling for their size too. The flavor profile of this dumpling dish was a wonderful blend of earthy, tangy, buttery and gamy all in one. The gaminess was mild and from the lamb filling in each piece, fyi. I also requested "easy on the butter" for a more healthy option. They put an ideal amount of it making each bite even more addictive with the exotic spices. The yogurt zing in it added a nice little sourness to contrast everything. I don't usually care for plain bread, but that complimentary bread they have was really good, fresh, toasty and a bit crispy. The seeded oil dip with it was good stuff as well. The owners are both so attentive, kind, welcoming and efficient in terms of service and hospitality. I need to try a dessert here one of these days after the main.

So good! The owner went through the menu and pointed out all the things I could have, seeing as I'm allergic to wheat and dairy. He was knowledgeable, nice, and just made sure we had a good experience. Overall- fantastic! We will be returning.

Nice quiet little mom and shop restaurant tucked away near downtown. Has a very homely feel to it (not very fancy or classy). I ordered the Iskender Kebab and it was too much meat for me. I feel the menu could have a few more options and variety beyond kebab / meat dishes but I suppose this is TX, so it's serving to the local clientele. There wasn't too much drink variety and I ended up having the Turkish hot tea which was fine. I probably would be interested in coming for a first time visit but wouldn't come back - and would venture out to other eateries instead. Perhaps drop in if you are in the area?

The food was amazing and the service was top notch. They took time to explain the dishes and made terrific recommendations.

I haven't been back here for a long time. Food was still good as I remembered but the restaurant needs to upgrade. The minute you walked in and the old mildew smell from an old restaurant clearly hit you. Maybe some candle fragrance or some coffee flavor smell would help. Of course if the owner can afford then the renovation is needed. Food and service overall was good. But plate presentation is not great.

Pasha is a wonderful family-owned turkish restaurant in houston, offering some of the most authentic, house-made dishes. the cozy, intimate atmosphere inside, combined with traditional decor, makes it a great spot to enjoy a meal with friends and family. the staff is extremely warm and welcoming, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. their lunch specials are amazing and I love their babaganush and kebabs. generous portions and excellent service, pasha is the perfect place for a relaxed and flavorful meal with friends or family! there is also a small parking lot in front of the restaurant and in the back

Absolutely delicious! The ambiance is incredible and the staff is extraordinary polite. I had the lentil soup, Iskender Kebab, Turkish iced tea, Turkish coffee, and Turkish flan. I recommend you get all of those, you will not be disappointed. Lovely place to eat and I will come back again and again!

This is the best Turkish food I've had in the US. We had the lahmacun, manti and several appetizers. The food was delicious. The owner and his team were wonderful. You can tell everything is made fresh. I hope to come back next time we are in the area.

Parking: There is a some parking at front and then some at back. Ambience: its not a fine dine but good for a family setup. Food: We tried falafel, chicken shish kebab, lamb shish kebab, adana etc. Everything was blend and tasteless except falafel. Lamb was chewy to a point that i had to spit it out. Adana was horrible. Service was quick. Prices are high for the portion and taste. There are better Turkish resturant in town. Disappointing.

What a cute and cozy little spot. I looooooved their dolma and lahmacun!! Not the best fan of the iskender kabob- just not my cup of tea. Their complimentary pita and dipping oil was also amazing. Staff was tentative and quick with service. Love this place!

Great food and service . Very friendly staff and nice ambience. Very good lunch specials

Wanted something relatively healthy with seafood options, so decided to try Pasha out. Dolma - these were larger than I am accustomed to and I really enjoyed them overall. Shrimp Kabob - Shrimp was alright, not the largest pieces and a little bit dry (overcooked). The sides and salads were delicious but the flavor was a bit too one-note and pickled. It would have been nice to replace one of the sides with a starch like rice. Parking - only a few spots out front, there is a small single alleyway that leads to a few more spots in the back. The atmosphere was very friendly, there were families with kids around and the servers were very nice and seemed to know many of the customers. You can tell they definitely have a strong base of customers and pride themselves on their community.

I decided to give Pasha another try, and I'm so glad I did! My group got the cheese rolls, dolmas, ali nazik with chicken, shawarma kebab, lamb shish kebab, and falafel plate. The cheese rolls came out hot and crispy, with just the right amount of saltiness from the feta. The ali nazik with chicken was served with a roasted eggplant purée that was pretty tasty, and the chicken was juicy. It would have been nice for this dish to have a fresh element as well (such as the pickled cabbage or vegetables that the other dishes had). Everyone cleaned their plates, but the best part of the meal was the basket of fresh pita bread served with herby olive oil for dipping. The bread had the perfect balance of textures: crispy exterior, chewy and soft interior. Service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is pretty small with less than 10 tables, so it might be hard if you have a larger group, but they could probably move some tables together to accommodate. The parking lot in front is also very small, so if you can't find a spot, I recommend parking in the Rice Village garage (free 2 hour parking).

Charming Ambiance, Delicious Food, Pricier Option. Despite the higher prices, the food was delicious, and the service was exceptional. The cozy cottage-like atmosphere added to the charm. Worth a visit if you're willing to splurge for a memorable dining experience.

The food was delicious and very reasonably priced The hummus was amazing all the lamb dishes were excellent the wine met my sister's high standards Service was so welcoming We were celebrating a birthday and they brought a delicious dessert for us to share I will return and maybe even have a party there

Tried this place for the first time today, not my first time having Turkish food, usually I avoid it because it doesn't have enough seasoning but some of their kabobs on the mixed grill platter were actually seasoned pretty well. I would still add more seasoning to the kabobs but they were pretty good. The adana & chicken kabobs were my favorite. I replaced the rice with fries and they have really great fries! I highly recommend them. We also had their "Munti" I think it was called, which is like a cross between a dumpling and ravioli, it was filled with beef and tasted pretty good but could still use some more flavor. The service is great and the restaurant is cozy, they do have a small parking lot though so it's better to car pool if you come here with a lot of people. I recommend you check this place out, their food is better than the other Turkish spots Ive been to in Houston.

I tried their beef kebab plate, lamb kebab plate, and the Turkish pizza. Everything was delicious, and the beef and lamb were very tender and cooked and seasoned perfectly. The kebab plates had a generous amount of meat to rice ratio. The restaurant did not have too many people on a Saturday night surprisingly. The only con is the price could be a bit steep, and nothing blew me out of the water. Definitely would return for the kebab plates and to try my friend's recommendation of the Turkish dumplings!

First time trying Turkish food and I must say I throughly enjoyed my visit to Pasha. Started with the Babaganush which is a creamy puree of grilled eggplant mixed with tahini and a touch of garlic. We also tried the Dolma, which are grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, raisins,onions, olive oil and spices. Finished off appetizers with the SİGARA BÖREK, crispy fried phyllo dough rolls stuffed with Turkish beef sausage and mozzarella. All appetizers were great and I highly recommend them. Make sure to keep a steady supply of their warm bread. Soaks everything up. For our main entree, we tried the mixed grill platter which featured a combination of Doner, Adana, Chicken Adana, Lamb Shish and Chicken Shish kebabs. Served with rice. Finished off dinner with a Kunafa, a shredded phyllo dough filled with sweet cheese, baked and soaked in homemade syrup. Served warm with pistachios. This was a must. Also got a Turkish coffee, and I could have done without it because I was up for hours past my bedtime! Keep it up Pasha!

I have passed by on so many occasions and finally today had time for a late, leisurely lunch. We shared hummus and I had a shawarma sandwich with well done fries. To start the bread was super fresh and the hummus was so good! The sandwich seems to use the same bread as was served with the hummus, but split and toasted. Everything down to the well done fries was perfection! Highly recommend and I look forward to dinner one day soon.

On my first visit, I found the service lacking. The server seemed rushed and not very informative; asking questions seemed to bother him. Unfortunately, the food wasn't up to par, and the ambiance and parking were limited.

Absolutely love Pasha. As a Turkish person, I was really happy with the authenticity and the quality of the dishes served. I especially recommend the Iskender Kebab. And you must end the meal with some good old Turkish tea (çay). The restaurant is also family-owned and has a nice, home-y vibe. The service is always friendly and attentive. Highly recommend Pasha if you are looking for good Turkish food in Houston.

Dining here took me back to a tiny table, a stone's throw from the Bosphorus, so close you could smell it. From the pides, to the kebabs, the beef liver, and especially the manti...it was a culinary Time Machine back to one of our favorite trips. I can't say I'm an expert on Turkish cuisine. While I've had it many times, including a trip to Turkey, what I CAN tell you is my palate is pretty good in memory recall (pretty decent home cook if I say so myself) and the flavors here had me walking from Asia to Europe, much like we did one evening in Istanbul. If you know, you know. So good, and the owner, so nice. Try it out, you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic family owned restaurant, excellent service, and great food. Feels like home. Highly recommend.

We love Mediterranean food and this was our first time dining here. Did not disappoint. Will return to try out something different from their extensive menu. Get the dessert! It was one of the best I've ever had.

I had a great meal. The service was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere felt comfy being in an old house. An easy walk from the Rice campus, and very walkable on a nice day from the many medical facilities not far away.

Pasha was a quaint cozy dining experience, I felt like I had entered someone's dining room. The lamb kabobs were tender but needed more seasoning. The liver was very tasty and I enjoyed it as an appetizer. Very nice first time experience.

This place has a really good vibe with a old hose turned into dining room and run by a family. Where things go wrong are the service, and the taste. The lamb kabobs were decent but with vet little flavor. The sides were stale and tasted like cafeteria food. Folks on our table got falafels wraps and they were uncooked in the center. The food earns some credit for the bread and the appetizers - a big plate with all the different dips on it. May give this another chance in a year or so.

I'd like to begin by saying that this place offers excellent service. Every single person we interacted with were attentive and friendly. Food was excellent, but that's a given! The place was cozy and laid back too!

This is by far my favorite Turkish restaurant in Houston, all the flavors melt in your mouth, and the beef is to die for. The owner mustafa is very nice and will occasionally come say hi and ask how the food is.

In the neighborhood running errands. We love Turkish food and decided to try this. Tiny front parking but has another lot in the back. Got seated immediately on a Sat around noon. We ordered the large meze plate to share as it came with 7 kinds of dips and grape leaves. I dislike grape leaves but didn't sub for others. Only wish the bread was hot! My friend had the lunch special with hummus and lamb chunks. The lamb was tender as I had a small piece. Good service. Prices are reasonable in the Rice Village area.

We were visiting Houston, Rice Village. Delicious food, I ordered to go and was ready when promised.

Delicious! Food was so good, service was very good. The bread and oil they served was worth eating two pieces

Delicious! Run by a family that work at the restaurant. Authentic food. The lamb is delicious!

Since my trip to Turkey I've been craving Kunefe. I searched for places in Houston were to buy it and Pasha came up. I was very excited to eat Kunefe again but I was a little disappointed. It was not the same as the one I tried in Istanbul. The Kunefe needed more cheese and the little bit of cheese it had I was not melted all the way. I went for lunch with my family and the lunch was a little better than the dessert. My husband and I shared the Doner Shawarma Kebab (beef and lamb). The meat was bland. It was missing a lot of flavor. The rice was good (I love rice). We also share a Turkish pizza the Lahmacun. It was really good the meat was good. We ordered with cheese but they forgot to add the cheese. My parents ordered the Lamb Shish Kebab and it was delicious. They loved it!!! I tried some of the lamb and it was tender and it had flavor. We also shared one of my favorite Turkish appetizers Sigara Borek. They were amazing!!! The owner was there he took care of us. He was very nice.

Excellent food and amazing service from beginning to end. Mustafa is a great host and person who was serving. She was very kind and concerned. This place has so many authentic Turkish Dishes. Highly recommended. Tashakur

Parking was easy, especially for this part of town. Nice atmosphere, quickly greated and seated by the staff. The menu is good- lots of kebabs of course, but other dishes as well. I had a combo beef/lamb kebab and chunks of beef. Accompanied by some amazing white rice- someone else commented on that and some onions that go well with the meat and some red cabbage- which I don't typically go for. OH I started with the ezme salad which was very fresh tasting and delicious. Turkish tea- again very good although I go very strong with mine usually. Our server was a nice young guy and made suggestions when asked. My partner had the stew- which he said was very good. He also had an order of sausage cheese rolls- he said next time he would eat a plate of those. We finished off with Kunefe- I'm not sure which spelling they use- it was made fresh- allow 15 minutes but was incredible- more wheat crust and a softer cheese than we have had before but yeah really super good. They do serve wine- not an extensive list but a very decent selection and prices were not bad. They do have Turkish wine- I have had the Yakut red and whites at other places and like them both. Saw quite a few to go orders. Oh and we were there on a wednesday just before 9 there were about 5 tables of guests. I'd imagine they are busier on the weekends. Lastly- we don't have dietary restrictions but theirfood is halal if you follow that diet. Definitely going to return.

We tried Iskender, Beyti, and Lahmacun. It was delicious and I strongly recommend this restaurant.

Everything is completely organic and magnificently delicious. As a Turkish guy, i felt like home. Strongly recommended.

This place keeps disappointing. Food and service used to be good a few years ago. But all recent visits are associated with old/tasteless food and rough customer service. Dish on the photo is an Iskender, that was made of a regular stir fried meat chunks ( if you know that is not the way it is supposed to be) had 0 flavor. After the server/owner asked us about the food - I replied that the dish lacked salt. At what she pointed at the table salt saying "you've got salt" The whole situation was anecdotal, maybe the food was terrible, but here is the star for a good laugh. P.S not even offering Turkish tea caps at a Turkish restaurant is just embarrassing

The service and decor were excellent. We loved the fried feta and the grilled vegetables. Also my mixed kebabs we nicely seasoned. We closed the deal with some Turkish coffee. Definitely a dining experience to remember.

This was the best food I've had at any restaurant! Fast service, kind employees. Highly recommend!

Great restaurant in the heart of Rice Village. Nice servers and good, authentic food. We love Eastern Mediterranean food, so we always stop by when visiting Houston!

Great food, tastes authentic. However the portions are not that big. Still a great place to catch dinner or lunch

best restaurant in Houston! traditional & authentic food, super friendly service and a great ambiance, overall just a winner !

Have been here several times and it's always good. It's a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Rice Village. Service is friendly. Food is hot and fresh. I do wish there were more seafood dishes but also understand that isn't popular for this cuisine. It's a bit pricey but will continue to return.

Lovely Meal! My friend and I are in Houston for medical treatment and we tried Pasha for dinner. We had a wonderful experience. It's a very quaint, cozy restaurant with personal service provided by the owners themselves. The red lentil soup was delicious as were the lamb kebabs. We highly recommend Pasha's.