We were searching for some Lebanese food and this came up in our search so we decided to give it a try..Upon arrival we walked up and was told to grab a menu decide on what we wanted and come back to the counter and order. We decided on trying the meat pies, hummus and kibbie as appetizers along with the beef kabobs with rice as an entree. Order was placed and we sat back down to observe their whole wall of their own olive oil. The inside was nice and clean and the waitress were very attentive. The food was cooked to perfection and arrived nice and hot. The only reason I gave it a 4+ is because of the self serve other than that it's a must try. read more

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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 read more

Cafe Lili - Chicken sandwich and fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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An amazing restaurant with authentic Lebanese cuisine. Variety of dishes and great appetizers. I also enjoyed the desserts. Pretty much everything we tried was great. The service is efficient and friendly with hands on ownership. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. read more

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! read more

Cafe Lili - Stuffed Butternut Squash - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

Best kofta outside Beirut or Cairo. The staff were so nice and kind, but the food was second to none. Can't wait to try again.

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. read more

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

Cafe Lili - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Cafe Lili - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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

Cafe Lili - Chicken Kabob, Vermicelli Rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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!! read more

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. read more

Cafe Lili - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

Cafe Lili - Inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

Cafe Lili - Steak Beef Kabob Cabbage Salad Fried Cauliflower - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

We were regulars for years. Always enjoyed the food. I'm in a restaurant almost every day and I look at the health scores now before going to any of them. Anything below a 90, I'm not interested. A score in the 70's is inexcusable and means there is a lot of unsanitary conditions. I hope the restaurant will take time to address them because the food was worth it. One star because of the health score but would have been a 4 for the food. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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!!! read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Cafe Lili - Chicken kabob meal - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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 read more

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 read more

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

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

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

Cafe Lili - Kibbi, dolmades, and best cucumber yogurt! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

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!!! read more

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. read more

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