This has got to be my favorite Middle Eastern food place. Love getting the beef shishkabob. Also love the vegetable plate - the cucumber and yogurt salad is the best in town. The Moujedra (lentils + rice with fried onion) is wonderful with the cucumber and yogurt salad. Their feta cheese salad (marinated tomatoes and feta) is great too, and I also love their lima bean salad. Their falafel is also some of the best in town in my opinion. They serve Lebanese red wine and a glass goes well with the beef kabobs or the veggie plate. Once in a great while they have okra stew as a special dish and that's excellent as well. Their mamool is great as a dessert after your meal, and they serve complimentary Lebanese coffee when you finish your main entree. Love this place! read more

Had Cafe Lili delivered today by amazon, everything was fresh and yummy, the only little thing was the rice was a little under cooked. Otherwise I always love everything I get from them. Their falafel is spot on, and really it always is delicious. The place is very clean, great service. read more

I have been eating here for over 17 years and love it. The service is always good and the food is unlike any other similar place I have been. AMAZING! read more

Cafe Lili - Beef shawerma add lettuce and house salad! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've just discovered this Labanese restaurant, food is tasty I really liked their Beef Shawarma. They also have complementary Arabic coffee. Service was ok ! read more

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I've only been here once and we got an order to go. We ordered two schwarma plates but when they brought it out, they said it was chicken. We said we didn't order that and they were apologetic and went in the back and unpacked and repacked everything. We got home and still wound up with two chicken sandwiches and one shwarma. Too much food but not all of what we wanted. My boyfriend was nice enough to let me eat the beef as I don't like chicken at all, but I was pretty disappointed with it. Not as tender and juicy as I was expecting. My boyfriend loves this place and goes there all the time, so I think all of this was unusual. read more

I have been here twice - once for dinner during the week and once during a weekday lunch - and both times the place was pretty busy. Food: The meats are juicy and taste good. They have all the sides that you'll ever want to go with you meats. Also, a great selection of Middle Eastern desserts. The tabbouleh was a little heavy on the lemon side - the way it is traditonally done, but is an acquired taste. I like it with more lemon but I know others don't always feel that well. Drinks: They actually carry beers which I know a lot of the other Middle Eastern place don't. Atmosphere: Nothing fancy - but hey, it is in a strip mall. Staff: Could move a little faster. Both times service was slow with the waitress just sitting behind the counter waiting for the menus and then the food to deliver themselves. Other: They have a mixed platter for two that you can share. I don't care for the cauliflower and asked them to replace it with a salad - which was not a problem. Also - don't be afraid to try the kibbeh - it is basically fried bread crumbs stuffed with minced meat and spices - and it is delicious. read more

Ordered a take out for two Shawarmas: the chicken was raw on one side, burnt on the other. Bitter taste. Small size like a lettuce wrap. It's a Lebanese place but obviously the cook is not. Would not come back. read more

This restaurant has to be one of our favorite restaurants! I have taken many friends here and we love the appetizer sampler. However, my MOST FAVORITE dish is the fattoush salad! OMG! Everything in the salad is so fresh! Order the following items -- you won't be disappointed: Fattoush salad Hummus Grape leaves (either vegetarian or meat -- both are good) Lebanese coffee laced with cardamom (yum!) Chicken kebab sandwich Vermicelli rice Kousa (stuffed squash -- incredible!) Stuffed cabbage Kibbe Pistachio baklava Pistachio cookie Baba ganoush Tabbouleh Chickpea stew (forgot the name) Every time we return, we try new items but we love to have any of the above listed, Give this place a try! read more

I used to live in Houston and didn't think much of Cafe Lili then, and recently tried it again after Hurricane Harvey on 9/2/17. Very disappointing! The food is still NOT GOOD. Bf and I saw the menu, and we were sad of the choices so we ordered below. 1. Stuffed Grape Leaves (stuffed with ground chuck beef and rice). Gross! The ground meat tasted funky. :`( 2. Fetoush Salad (mixed vegetables, toasted pita bread, Lebanese seasonings, with lemon, garlic and olive oil dressing) with grilled chicken. The latter was its saving grace! Chicken was plumped and cut fairly large with grilled mark and taste. Delicious! Salad dressing was terribly lemony! It was so sour that we made those puckered faces and laughed the crappy taste off. 3. Lebanese coffee is free (small cup after your meal, but I asked for before). Now that coffee is da bomb! Plus our waitress kept pouring my tiny 1-shot cup 3x! So I'm giving this restaurant a 2-star rating because of its yummy grilled chicken, delicious coffee, awesome service, and great location/parking! Suggestions: Please expand the menu and/or re-make each dish with more flavours. We would love to come back for better food experience! :) read more

Outstanding Lebanese food. The best in Houston in my humble opinion. Consistent quality, even if service can be average at times.

I got a chance to taste the food at an office lunch and I was so pleased with how good the food was. I got to sample the beef kabob and it had a really good flavor, the hummus was the best I've tasted. But the biggest pleasant surprise was how good their salad was. We had the Greek salad (romaine lettuce, green onion, feta cheese, tomatoes with Caesar dressing. Loved it! read more

After seeing Triple D, I had to make the jaunt from Katy try this place out and it did not disappoint. We had all that Guy recommended and I would definitely come back for all of it. Chicken kabob with Lebanese salad and hummus. Delicious!!!! read more

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

I had this place on my bookmarks list for the longest, so was excited to finally give it a try. Oh goodness. First of all, the pita bread. Definitely not made fresh in-house, and comes in a plastic bag. They can't even bother to warm up! We ordered the hummus appetizer. Highly priced for a small plate that tasted like it came out of a container. I ordered the chicken kabob plate. Yes you get a humongous salad, but that's not why you come to eat Lebanese. The chicken was sooo dry I could've used it to sponge up some of the water on the table. And the flavor? Nope, nothing here! Our table also ordered kafta kabobs which also didn't have any flavor. And be warned if you order a full plate, it's almost $20! And the amount of food is not much more than at other places!! There is nothing worse than paying a lot for bad food. If you want flavorful Mediterranean, go somewhere else...there are a lot more options in Houston that are much better and whose pricing is definitely more reasonable. read more

Best Lebanese food in Houston! It's been there for at least 15 years. Owners are very sweet and the garlic sauce is Mmmmmm. Enjoy!

I visit this place quite regularly, great food and fantastic service: their coffee is the best way to end any meal

The BEST Lebanese restaurant in ALL of Houston! I recently traveled to California for business and searched high and low for a comparable Lebanese cuisine... I tried so many different restaurants and not one even compared in the same category to Cafe Lili! I personally get the beef shawarma (with extra Tahini sauce because it's just THAT good) and my husband gets the Grill Combo. The quality of the meat and ingredients is what set this place apart from the others, as you can just tell from the first bite everything is homemade and fresh. If you are thinking about stopping here, DO IT! You won't be disappointed! read more

I absolutely love this place!! I swear I will come here just for the complementary Lebanese coffee shot! The food is always great and super friendly workers!! And the price is perfect!! read more

Nice restaurant tucked away in one of the 100's of Houston strip malls. Service was very pleasant and accommodating. Restaurant super clean. Food just ok. Had a falafel sandwich which was extremely dry. Needed perhaps tahini sauce. The parsley in the sandwich was very fresh. The complimentary coffee was a nice touch with its hints of cardamom. Overall nice experience--the service made up for the average sandwich. read more

Ordered the baked kibbe, meat platter and a side of tabouleh and lentil rice. They were all tasty and delicious. We also had bread and homus, which was great. Apart from the food, our host added to the 5-star experience as she was cheerful, informative and just sincerely nice. Would definitely return. read more

Cafe Lili - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

All I can say is "Wow"!!!!! Our party for 60 people was beyond perfect! Everyone raved about the food----how delicious, how plentiful! They were overwhelmed (and happily over-ate!). We were SO happy you encouraged us to get such a variety of dishes! We're so used to ordering the same things when we (regularly!) come in, but that's over now! The lebneh!!!! I had no idea!!! My daughter went crazy over the stuffed squash. Everyone commented on how well taken care of they were. The party room worked out so perfectly---video, sound, the set up. It felt very private the whole time. We are happily eating leftovers every night, but will still be coming in. The problem is figuring out what to order! It was so easy before!! Thank you for running a terrific show! read more

We came because my husband is half Lebanese and was looking for some good food to remind him of his childhood. Café Lili did not disappoint! The service staff were very attentive and polite. We ordered the shawarma and the kafta kabob. We also got a side of hummus, kippe, and baklava. The kippe is a must! So flavorful! After dinner, they gave us complimentary coffee. Definitely a good experience - give it a try! read more

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My office of about 20 orders from here at least once a month. Great service and they never miss up the 20 orders. If you are looking for swanky atmosphere this aint the place. It's a family run restaurant that focuses on the authenticity of their food and is more of a deli type indoor place. They tend to close for family holidays so don't get too bent out of shape if you call and they're closed around 4th of July. I always get the veggie plate. Their moujedra is out of this world. Lentils with crispy fried onions on top.. drool. I also like their tabouli salad and baba ghanouj. irap it all up in their thin pita. sometimes i get double the moujedra.. eat half of everyhting and save the other half to eat at the pool the next day. Good light (mostly) healthy lunch. Recommend trying this place if you're in the mood for some legit Lebanese food but not if you're looking for the swanky interior you'd find in the midtown area. read more

Well I was up in Houston on the 20th. I like to make it a point when I do go up to Houston's to stop by Café Lili. Set my heritage is Lebonese and she cooks Lebanese, fine Lebanese food. I called ahead and had them set the baked Kibbeh I like to bring that home with me to eat. So when we finally got there it was still the lunch crowd is before 2:30 PM. Our server was amazing I let him know that I called earlier to have them set aside the Kibbeh I let him know that I was taking it to go and he asked about sides and I enjoy their stuffed grape leaves so I had a dozen of the stuffed grape leaves for my sides. Then he took our order at the counter and is soon as we ordered he was setting up our table I was getting ice water and work came back the table was set with all the placements and then he started bringing our food out looked amazing I had a couple of stuffed meat pies and spinach pies and the yogurt cucumber salad enjoyed them all my sister had some sort of salad and fried Collie flower. I like the bread that they brought to the table and I enjoy that with olive oil and cracked black pepper. I was stuffed enjoyed everything and he brought my sister the Lebanese coffee and or order to go. Every time I go to Houston make it to go by Café Lili. read more

Cafe Lili - Middle Eastern Near Me - Houston, Texas

Cafe Lili has been one of my favorite places for years. Unpretentious & casual a great place to get a very tasty meal. Their falafel to me is the best in town. Not the usual little ball, these are football shaped wonders. Fried to perfection and served with a creamy tahini sauce. The appetizer serving is big so split with a friend or take some home to enjoy later. another favorite is their chicken kabob sandwich (American comes with lettuce & tomatoes...jalapenos upon request). The chicken is grilled to perfection topped with a tasty garlic sauce and veggies, tucked into a soft pita. The fried cauliflower is sweet, the fatoush salad a lemony delight. They throw in daily specials and my favorite is the grilled fish. And I mean the whole fish, head & tail. My table mate ordered this fine dish and when it hit the table the waitress sang "Someone's going to be jealous!" And I was. Fortunately there was enough to share and I had my meal packed to go. The owner's are very visible whether you visit for lunch or dinner. One will walk around and offer little cups of Lebanese coffee. This stuff is potent so don't ask for seconds like I did. Especially at night. read more

Had the special soup for the day, lentil soup, was great, then ordered the falafel sandwich which was also really good. The place is very clean and spacious and great location read more

Amazing food. Meat pies are the best. Baba is so roasted and creamy. Coconut cookies are to die for.

Had an incredible experience here. Delicious food and great service! Kent really made sure we were treated well. Will definitely come back.

Saw this restaurant on DD&Dives. Looked interesting. We got the Kibbe which was okay. We ordered the vege plate which included cucumber and yogurt salad (very good), baba ganoush (very smokey flavored yuck), feta and tomatoes (okay) and lebne (good). A large party was there and I was told that they could not cook a kabob for at least thirty minutes. Strange as otherwise the place was empty. Ordered the falafel sandwich instead. Average. There pita is not very good. Very dry. Much prefer Fadi's. Service was good. read more

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I have been eating at Cafe Lili for 20 years and the food, customer service and atmosphere is consistently wonderful. The owners are good people and I am lucky to know them. read more

Recommended by one of out neighbors and so glad she did. Food is really good. We ordered 2 side salads and one large greek salad with chicken. Everything was super yummie very fresh. Not real speedy but the wait staff is very friendly and nice. This will be a regular on our list. read more

I love the food and the servers here. And when they have pistachio cookies - get them, you will thank me. The salad is a salad... Its okay but nothing to write home about.... However the chicken kabob is amazing. It's tender, served with vermicelli and a side of buttery sauce. The only downside is the older woman (Who it turns out it is the mother or mother-in-law of the owner) who will sit, talk loudly on phone, play om her iPad and smoke her hookah right at the front door. Its very off putting.... The owner Elie is very friendly with customers (he is a big boisterous man with lots to say.... ) but doesn't seem to treat his waitstaff well... I have seen him yell at a server for even the smallest of mistakes.... Those are the only reasons i gave it so few stars when the food and service is so good... I can find good food many places that when the owner is so publicly mean to people who work for him I would rather take my business elsewhere. read more

This little out-of-the-way spot is a real find. The wait staff is attentive and friendly. The food is very tasty and they have some excellent choices for vegetarians. I'd definitely get the moussaka if you're into eggplant! I'm not often someone who orders dessert, but I do here. And the complimentary Turkish coffee is fantabulously flavorful-- just don't drink it too late at night!! read more

Great classic Lebanese food, and very friendly service! The ice machine was out but they were incredibly pleasant about refilling it! The owner is such a nice guy and their specials looked super tasty! You knows it's good when my Lebanese friends claims its the most delicious and authentic Lebanese cuisine in Houston! read more

I convinced a group of my coworkers to try Lebanese. Cafe Lili was the closest place. While standing in a line (probably a lunch rush) a man kept saying "sir I can help you" over and over progressively getting louder. There was a young lady ahead of me in line whom he was overlooking. I gently got her attention and said "you can order" once it was my turn I asked if they served "Lebanese tea". He began to explain that "that's a Louisiana thing" he was so aggressive that when I turned to look at one of my coworkers she immediately said "woah! Still wanna eat here?" I ordered Lebanese coffee and it was delicious also my server ANGELICA deserves props for being so incredibly awesome!!! However! The guy at the counter rubbed me the wrong way. I shall not be returning, and I doubt any of my 8+ coworkers will either. read more

My family and I have been eating at Cafe Lili for the last 20+ years, and all I can say is: it's better every time. The food is always excellent, service is great, the owners are always at the restaurant making sure their customers are happy. I highly recommend this place. I have many Lebanese friends who eat here regularly (which says a lot about the restaurant) and they always say they love the food. read more

My second time. The food and wine are good. The tabouli is the best I have ever had.

Not impressed with the chicken sandwich. For $10 that sandwich was way below average. The place is nice and clean and staff seem to b friendly. Ive had much better chicken shawarmas in houston for half the price. read more

There wasn't really anything special about the food here, but the food wasn't bad either--just the standard Mediterranean The pita was cold and a little tough, as if they just pulled it from a refrigerated bag. The same goes for the hummus, it just tasted like those you buy at the grocery store in the refrigerated section. As for the main entree, the chicken kabobs and beef shwarma had nothing real special to them. And the rice that comes with the entrees had very subtle flavor. I feel a little generous giving the place 3-stars instead of 2. Though I didn't dislike the food, it's still not a place I would come back to. read more

The best Lebanese food in Houston, excellent service and flavor. You have to try their lebne, tabule salad, meat pie and house coffee.

It's a clean and casual place. They have table service for lunch and dinner, but counter service between lunch and dinner. I've had much better food for the same or cheaper prices. I got the chicken sandwich, which was $11 and came with fries. They have complimentary Lebanese coffee, which is slightly sweet and flavored with cardamom. The coffee was my favorite thing about this place. read more