Empire Turkish Grill is a staple spot for my family and me whenever we want good quality Turkish food. This spot has such a homey feel. Everything we've had here tastes delicious, is light, and not too salty. I love having the lentil soup as an appetizer, along with the shepherd salad (we added feta) and fried eggplant. I honestly wasn't a huge fan of the cheese rolls, but my family enjoyed them. For our meals, we ordered fillet and chicken, both of which you can't go wrong with! For dessert, we ordered the sutlac and keskul, both of which are like rice pudding. The sutlac is my personal favorite though! And of course, we had to get tea with our dessert. The servers here are all so kind, and the service is quick. There is plenty of parking available in a lot. Overall, I highly recommend Empire Turkish Grill if you're craving/wanting to try Turkish food! read more

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So so so much food and it was all so so so good. Started with some cheese rolls which were nice and crispy, and the feta was good. For the main we had to split a Empire's Mixed Grill Platter which had an insane amount of meat on it but every single one was amazing. I couldnt pick a favorite! Everyone got a dessert and we shared to try them all: the Keskul, Kazandibi, and Firinda Sutlac. All three tasted great but the Keskul was just pure magic. I want moreeeee read more

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Authentic Turkish flavors with a solid lunch specials Good atmosphere, service was efficient and friendly, even the attendants made us feel very welcoming. we ordered a hummus appetizer to start, pairing with their fresh bread, became a winning combo and a perfect way to kick off the meal. I went with the lamb kebob lunch and really enjoyed the grilled flavors. The meat was tender, the pickled veggies, grilled peppers and tomatoes all worked well together. The rice portion was generous but a bit buttery for me Ambiance was lively for a Friday lunch crowd, spotted a corner table of Eastern Europeans enjoying a BYOB gathering, clearly a local favorite. Parking is in a strip center, very accessible off Memorial. All in all, a good place to do a big group dinner to share more dishes, or a reliable business lunch. Definitely planning to come back to try more of their menu! read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food is always good. New flavors to spoil your pallet along with rice that is incredible. We've been going to Empire for decades and never disappointed read more

Located on Memorial in a small strip center, it popped up on the recommendations for the Memorial area. Went to lunch with a friend and it was completely empty inside. The interior is a bit outdated and decor is also a bit dated. For how empty the restaurant was, the service was honestly slightly slow. We got falafels and the fried liver for appetizers. Well, somehow our server heard "eggplant" and gave us a dish of eggplant and yogurt; neither of us touched it at all. The falafel was a bit bland and the beef liver was also very single noted. We got the empire mixed grill and ate family style. The rice was decent and the gyro meat was alright. Unfortunately, the other meats were not my favorite; slightly burnt on the outside and dry on the inside. I didn't touch the veggies. We also got a plate of stuffed cabbage rolls; probably the most authentic tasting dish we had and pretty good if you're a cabbage fan. Overall, it's great to have a Turkish spot in the area and for one not to be a chain spot. However the items we ordered were not my favorite. read more

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This is my second time visiting Empire Turkish Grill, but it won't be my last!! Each time I have come with a very legs group, 16+ people, and they were so accommodating. My biggest recommendation regardless of how many people are with you is to enjoy ordering and sampling a lot of things family style! I have eaten so many amazing foods here. Typically, it's so good I forget to take a picture before it's gone. My favorites are the lentil soup, fried zucchini, and yaprak sarma (grape leaves). Give this place a try, you won't regret it!! read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Tea, Baklava, Keskul, and Kazandibi. - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Delicious, authentic, tasty! The food is always incredible. I have been a handful of times and my go to dishes are: - cheese rolls--crispy and flavorful! They are surprisingly very light for being a fried cheese roll LOL. Just get it. Trust me. - appetizer platter--if you're wanting to try all the dips, I'd suggest getting this. It has small portions of 6 different appetizers and each one is unique and tasty. - grill platter--great if you have more than 2 people. It's also an excellent option if you want to try all the meats. Love coming here as there is something for everyone and the prices are incredible for the quality and amount of food. Will definitely come back! read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Cheese rolls and appetizer platter - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish coffee. Fabulous - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Yummy! First time there and it was wonderful. This restaurant came highly recommended by many people. Glad I went.

Such a cute place with great service. It was the most delicious Mediterranean food I've ever had. We ordered Mixed Grilled for two people and it was plenty of food. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Mixed Grill for two people - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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! read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Lamb sis kebab 5/5 - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because the waiters were not that attentive to our table but the food... delicious! I had the Turkish mixed grill for $39 and it was worth every penny. I tried the Turkish tea. It wasn't bad but it taste like strong tea. Overall, it's a good place but the attention of the waiters was not good. Maybe it was just us. I don't know but please try it out because the food was wonderful and not the same ole garbage. read more

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. read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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Fantastic authentic Turkish cuisine! My family is Turkish, and they say this is the only place in Houston that lives up to the name. Great service and even better food. This place is a MUST TRY! read more

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! read more

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

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

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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!! read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Dumplings (Lamb) - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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 read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

Best lunch specials around! Great price and fresh. Lentil soup is the best I have ever had. Everyone who works there is fantastic. Friendly and really great. Recently upgraded interior. Fantastic food with great flavors. read more

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! read more

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Visited with a friend today. Our waiter ignored us for bigger tables. We arrived before 3 others and put in our order but the other smaller groups who came after us got their meals and paid and left and we still didn't have our food. The lady refilling the waters looked so irritated to be there. Not welcoming in the least. The food is decent. The rice wasn't fresh same day rice but the chicken was OK. I will not be back. There are too many other good Mediterranean restaurants in the area to feel like you're inconveniencing the staff and to get ignored. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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

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! read more

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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Chicken wrap with fries. - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food was delicious and the staff friendly and helpful, especially because we were unfamiliar with the menu. We will be back.

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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Red lentil soup & hot tea - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

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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. read more

Empire Turkish Grill - Appetizer sampler platter - Turkish Near Me - Houston, Texas

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! read more

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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! read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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