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Nice Turkish fast option inside London near the Aldgate East station. This quick option is directly across from their main restaurant.
Dined in 28 *and* 29 December 2023 I think it is a bit pricey here, but it does seem standard for central London. We paid £80+ for two meals, 2 passion fruit mocktails, 1x falafel, and baklava. For the table, they serve a salad and bread with 2 dips/sauces: 1x creamy and 1x tomato-based. The bread is very addictive. You can see the salad atop the counter as you walk in. I am not sure how long they put them out before serving, but it is also the area where customers are waiting for their to-go orders. We ordered falafel, which came on a bed of lettuce and with a side of hummus. The falafel was good, and the hummus just intensified the flavor. For our main dish, we had a salmon plate and lamb shish or first visit. At our second visit, we had the lamb chops and lamb ribs plates: all plates were served with a grilled tomato, a grilled pepper, and rice. You can order a side of rice, but there is not an option to make changes to the kebab meals. The rice was basic white rice. Our server was attentive and when he wasn't immediately available, other employees came to clear the table. At a table outside, I noticed one of the employees smoking. I can't say with certainty if she washed her hands or not before returning to work. The atmosphere was okay. The food came out timely. We weren't rushed to leave after finishing our meals. The food is amazing. The salmon was juicy and flavorful, the lamb ribs were a good portion I had to take some to go, and the lamb shish was tender and delicious. I just wished there were more options or an a la cart option and more vegetables other than a single roasted tomato and grilled pepper.
Two meals in three days. Loved this place. We came as a big group first for dinner then came only two for lunch the second time. Main reason is I wanted to try lamb shish which we didn't get the chance to try. We had mixed hot appetizers, doners, chicken shish, lamb stew ( haleb kebab) and lamb pide. All really tasty . Maybe lamb pide was my least favorite. Chicken shish was surprisingly juice so I wanted to try lamb shish which was excellent grilled. So juicy with the original lamb flavor. Bakalava was super rich and sweet with which turkey coffee or turkey tea is the must. Services were excellent as well. Very attentive and prompt. Really enjoyed the dining experiences here.
When I'm Europe, you must try Turkish food and, truthfully speaking, Turkish cuisine might be my favorite. It's so elite, emphasizes natural taste of its meats, and works strongly with clean vegetables for a good healthy and damn delicious diet. Efes represents that concept to an elite level, that perhaps even justifies a hefty price tag. I ordered the Lahmahcun appetizer (6 pounds) and the mixed Kebab platter (26 pounds), which is about $8 and $34 at the time of this writing. It is not cheap despite the sufficient volume of food. But, almost 100%, justified. Lahmahcun is essentially flat bread with minced meat and vegetables on top. I enjoyed the thin, soft, yet slightly crispy and charred texture, and the appetizer served as a fantastic wrapping for the complimentary salad they give. I felt the appetizer was 100% worth it as I could still feel the minced meat texture and flavor sufficiently. It was a good dish. The mixed kebab platter is a bit conflicting for me. I didn't expect such a heavy price tag, but truth be told, the first few bites were fucking incredible, like "bloody hell this should be illegal" incredible. It's juicy, with a nice tenderness to chew ratio, and the flavor of the meat still comes through so profoundly even with all the amazing spice and seasoning. It's really fucking good. Is it the best Turkish I've had? Top 3 in my life so far. That being said, it still is a hefty price tag for a platter and I really have to give this a lot of thought. It wasn't a life changing or educational dish, just a very solid one, but I can't imagine getting it again. Still, I'd come back to Efes for their other dishes, like more affordable Doners. With all that in mind, I think this is an incredible spot to have a sample of what London offers for the Turkish scene. Just do keep in mind the price tag.
Came here here to eat at 9pm on Saturday after flying in from the states. I have walked by on other trips and just hadn't had the chance to stop in yet so this was the opportunity. I had the minced lamb kabab #23 and it was nice and juicy. The plate is simple but it's exactly what I expressed based on the pictures in the menu. The green pepper is HOT so beware. The pita is delicious it comes out warm and fluffy which is complementary along with the salad. The salad might not be for all taste but I really enjoyed it. It has a vinagar beet flavor to it Overall very good
Excellent service. Server was very attentive. Portions were generous. Restaurants is nice and has a classic feel to it. Great place to visit!
Efes is the main course to the dessert place they own right across the street, though I don't like it as much as their sister shop. It's cute inside, but you can feel the heat of the meat on your face when you walk inside and it's a bit too warm for me. The staff was super helpful though and gave lots of tips on food spots nearby so that was cool! They brought out some bread and a small salad to start. The bread was soft and fluffy, and pretty good. The salad was a little sour and heavy on the vinegar for my taste though. I ordered the Lamb and Chicken Kebab and it tasted good on seasoning, but was just a little dry and chewy. I would've liked to try more and give it a chance but just wasn't interested enough to go back even though it was right next to the dessert place.
The food was good! I had kebab and my husband has islander and we loved it. We got a side of babaganus which was also fantastic. The service was lacking. We asked for the bread which we were willing to pay and never got it. Then we noticed people had it for free. So that was annoying but overall good foos
So the idea is sound. A very authentic Turkish place with the food Ina ready to cook form. I think we ordered the wrong stuff or perhaps caught them on a bad day. The food comes out as home cooked and argue servings. When I say home cooked I mean the presentation is not there. One dish was chicken with bread and a big spolch of yogurt. When you look at it it is not appetizing. The food looks overwhelming and not edible, but once you get over that the tastes are fine. The staff leaves a lot to be desired. I asked for water atleast 5 times to get served once. Not a good outcome for us.
The food is absolutely outstanding- fresh and delicious- but that's just the cherry on top of the wonderful service and warm welcome that Emircon gave us. It was so good we went back two times in a row. My 5 kids all gave it 5 stars as well! It's a don't miss!
Best meal of the trip! I was staying down the block and seeing all of the Kabobs in the window, we couldn't pass it by. So glad we went in! Over ordered and over ate because everything was fantastic. We got the cold platter with hummus, babaganoush and cacik to name a few and some fantastic naan. We had the mix kabob plate and the mix donar plate, everything was absolutely amazing! The kabobs were better when they first came out but if you are a slow eater the donar was still amazing over time. I wish I could eat here every week!
When in London, definitely get a kebab! I had to find time for a proper Turkish restaurant after already having a quick, neighborhood kebab. A last minute search turned up Efes, so we came over and luckily did not have to wait to sit down even though we did not have a reservation. Chose a mix doner with chicken and lamb. I think I liked the chicken more than the lamb, but both were great as they were cooked and flavored very well. The portions were also extremely generous. Definitely make sure to use the sauces they give you as they make the meats taste ever better! Service here was great, no complaints at all. Very happy with my decision to come here. Would definitely come back again!
2 months ago
Service was so bad and that is why for the low rating. Food was all average for my first Turkish food experience which you could say is basically Greek food. Meanwhile the place is filled with employees walking around everywhere but I was eating alone and not wearing a turban so maybe that's why. read more
3 months ago
6 months ago
had lentil soup and cheddar pide. Both of them were so delicious. And the owner is an Arsenal fan, so amazing! read more
5 months ago
3 years ago
Dined in 28 *and* 29 December 2023 I think it is a bit pricey here, but it does seem standard for central London. We paid £80+ for two meals, 2 passion fruit mocktails, 1x falafel, and baklava. For the table, they serve a salad and bread with 2 dips/sauces: 1x creamy and 1x tomato-based. The bread is very addictive. You can see the salad atop the counter as you walk in. I am not sure how long they put them out before serving, but it is also the area where customers are waiting for their to-go orders. We ordered falafel, which came on a bed of lettuce and with a side of hummus. The falafel was good, and the hummus just intensified the flavor. For our main dish, we had a salmon plate and lamb shish or first visit. At our second visit, we had the lamb chops and lamb ribs plates: all plates were served with a grilled tomato, a grilled pepper, and rice. You can order a side of rice, but there is not an option to make changes to the kebab meals. The rice was basic white rice. Our server was attentive and when he wasn't immediately available, other employees came to clear the table. At a table outside, I noticed one of the employees smoking. I can't say with certainty if she washed her hands or not before returning to work. The atmosphere was okay. The food came out timely. We weren't rushed to leave after finishing our meals. The food is amazing. The salmon was juicy and flavorful, the lamb ribs were a good portion I had to take some to go, and the lamb shish was tender and delicious. I just wished there were more options or an a la cart option and more vegetables other than a single roasted tomato and grilled pepper. read more
Two meals in three days. Loved this place. We came as a big group first for dinner then came only two for lunch the second time. Main reason is I wanted to try lamb shish which we didn't get the chance to try. We had mixed hot appetizers, doners, chicken shish, lamb stew ( haleb kebab) and lamb pide. All really tasty . Maybe lamb pide was my least favorite. Chicken shish was surprisingly juice so I wanted to try lamb shish which was excellent grilled. So juicy with the original lamb flavor. Bakalava was super rich and sweet with which turkey coffee or turkey tea is the must. Services were excellent as well. Very attentive and prompt. Really enjoyed the dining experiences here. read more
8 months ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
When I'm Europe, you must try Turkish food and, truthfully speaking, Turkish cuisine might be my favorite. It's so elite, emphasizes natural taste of its meats, and works strongly with clean vegetables for a good healthy and damn delicious diet. Efes represents that concept to an elite level, that perhaps even justifies a hefty price tag. I ordered the Lahmahcun appetizer (6 pounds) and the mixed Kebab platter (26 pounds), which is about $8 and $34 at the time of this writing. It is not cheap despite the sufficient volume of food. But, almost 100%, justified. Lahmahcun is essentially flat bread with minced meat and vegetables on top. I enjoyed the thin, soft, yet slightly crispy and charred texture, and the appetizer served as a fantastic wrapping for the complimentary salad they give. I felt the appetizer was 100% worth it as I could still feel the minced meat texture and flavor sufficiently. It was a good dish. The mixed kebab platter is a bit conflicting for me. I didn't expect such a heavy price tag, but truth be told, the first few bites were fucking incredible, like "bloody hell this should be illegal" incredible. It's juicy, with a nice tenderness to chew ratio, and the flavor of the meat still comes through so profoundly even with all the amazing spice and seasoning. It's really fucking good. Is it the best Turkish I've had? Top 3 in my life so far. That being said, it still is a hefty price tag for a platter and I really have to give this a lot of thought. It wasn't a life changing or educational dish, just a very solid one, but I can't imagine getting it again. Still, I'd come back to Efes for their other dishes, like more affordable Doners. With all that in mind, I think this is an incredible spot to have a sample of what London offers for the Turkish scene. Just do keep in mind the price tag. read more
Came here here to eat at 9pm on Saturday after flying in from the states. I have walked by on other trips and just hadn't had the chance to stop in yet so this was the opportunity. I had the minced lamb kabab #23 and it was nice and juicy. The plate is simple but it's exactly what I expressed based on the pictures in the menu. The green pepper is HOT so beware. The pita is delicious it comes out warm and fluffy which is complementary along with the salad. The salad might not be for all taste but I really enjoyed it. It has a vinagar beet flavor to it Overall very good read more
1 year ago
Excellent service. Server was very attentive. Portions were generous. Restaurants is nice and has a classic feel to it. Great place to visit! read more
2 years ago
Efes is the main course to the dessert place they own right across the street, though I don't like it as much as their sister shop. It's cute inside, but you can feel the heat of the meat on your face when you walk inside and it's a bit too warm for me. The staff was super helpful though and gave lots of tips on food spots nearby so that was cool! They brought out some bread and a small salad to start. The bread was soft and fluffy, and pretty good. The salad was a little sour and heavy on the vinegar for my taste though. I ordered the Lamb and Chicken Kebab and it tasted good on seasoning, but was just a little dry and chewy. I would've liked to try more and give it a chance but just wasn't interested enough to go back even though it was right next to the dessert place. read more
The food was good! I had kebab and my husband has islander and we loved it. We got a side of babaganus which was also fantastic. The service was lacking. We asked for the bread which we were willing to pay and never got it. Then we noticed people had it for free. So that was annoying but overall good foos read more
So the idea is sound. A very authentic Turkish place with the food Ina ready to cook form. I think we ordered the wrong stuff or perhaps caught them on a bad day. The food comes out as home cooked and argue servings. When I say home cooked I mean the presentation is not there. One dish was chicken with bread and a big spolch of yogurt. When you look at it it is not appetizing. The food looks overwhelming and not edible, but once you get over that the tastes are fine. The staff leaves a lot to be desired. I asked for water atleast 5 times to get served once. Not a good outcome for us. read more
2 years ago
The food is absolutely outstanding- fresh and delicious- but that's just the cherry on top of the wonderful service and warm welcome that Emircon gave us. It was so good we went back two times in a row. My 5 kids all gave it 5 stars as well! It's a don't miss! read more
Best meal of the trip! I was staying down the block and seeing all of the Kabobs in the window, we couldn't pass it by. So glad we went in! Over ordered and over ate because everything was fantastic. We got the cold platter with hummus, babaganoush and cacik to name a few and some fantastic naan. We had the mix kabob plate and the mix donar plate, everything was absolutely amazing! The kabobs were better when they first came out but if you are a slow eater the donar was still amazing over time. I wish I could eat here every week! read more
1 year ago
6 years ago
When in London, definitely get a kebab! I had to find time for a proper Turkish restaurant after already having a quick, neighborhood kebab. A last minute search turned up Efes, so we came over and luckily did not have to wait to sit down even though we did not have a reservation. Chose a mix doner with chicken and lamb. I think I liked the chicken more than the lamb, but both were great as they were cooked and flavored very well. The portions were also extremely generous. Definitely make sure to use the sauces they give you as they make the meats taste ever better! Service here was great, no complaints at all. Very happy with my decision to come here. Would definitely come back again! read more
1 year ago
Loved the vibe of this place. It was packed on a late Sunday evening, and since we were tired and did not want to wait, we decided to take the food to-go. The service was wonderful and fast, the food was fresh, and the portions were more than reasonable for one person. The restaurant was beautiful and you could tell from the packed house that the food was quality! Since we had to take a train ride back to our hotel, the food was slightly colder, but still tasted delicious. The garlic sauce was not over the top, but had a beautiful subtle flavor. The meat was tender and moist, and all the vegetables were definitely fresh and had a crunch to it! Loved it. Will keep this place in mind next time I'm back in London! read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
Went to eat here and tried Turkish food for the first time here with my family. The restaurant was nice looking inside and outside. Service was good and fast. Complimentary bread with yogurt sauce was very good. I ordered the grilled sea bass with salad and chips. Everything was amazing. Chips were crispy and flavorful, sea bass was good and big, and salad was fresh and different. Meats were delicious too. I finally got to drink cold water after the first few days of visiting London due to most restaurants not putting ice in their water for some reason. The only problems we had were the amount of foods not available for dinner but everybody still loved their food. read more
5 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
7 years ago
Such great food! Generous portions, good service, and enjoyed trying some Turkish versions of some of our Mediterranean food favorites. The Turkish red house wine was quite good, as well. Glad we tried it! Clean and pleasant restaurant, too. read more
9 years ago
This is a brilliant place and ticks all boxes for me. Great food, friendly staff and great interiors and ambiance. We went for lunch and we were seated quickly by a very friendly staff. We were offered free salad and bread which was a absolutely divine and I would have paid if it were not free! I had the Chicken Donner and my friends had felafel wrap and Veg Pida. While the food took some time arrive we nibbled in the salad and bread which were as I said absolutely delicious. The food is top notch, service absolutely brilliant. At the end they offered us free complimentary Turkish tea. You are in Aldgate and looking for some good lunch time option I strongly urge you they this marvellous Turkish restaurant and I am sure you will not be disappointed! read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
Ridiculous! So much food. And delicious. And let me repeat - so much food. Bring friends to share portions are American Plus Sized and it's impossible to finish unless you're a competitive eater. Everything that came from the grill and kitchen looked amazing. I had the lamb iskender and some cous cous. And they brought half a loaf of bread and salad on top of that. Barely made a dent into it. Was fabulous and spiced beautifully. Great wait staff. A bit hovery yes but attentive and not in your face too much. Prices are agreeable and everything should be shared. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
This place was recommended to me by my Uber driver Cetin, who sang the praises of this authentic Turkish food, and ir was delicious and the portion sizes are large. So come hungry. read more
10 years ago
Arrive late in London. Only restaurant that was still open. But what a great surprise!! The salad was crisp and nicely flavored. The bread is to die for. My lamb chop was cooked to perfect. My friend Eric ordered a mixed Kabab was decent, too. One of the best thing was the ambience. It's buzzy and friendly. Remind me of Istanbul!! read more
7 years ago
Always busy but with a quick turnover. Very well cooked meats (chicken is particularly moist). One star off as beers could and should be colder. read more
8 years ago
Tasty food and good service that will have you stuffed. Portions may seem a bit small when they come out (if you are used to US food sizes) but trust me when I say they are perfect as you may struggle to finish all along with the salad and fresh bread that comes with your meal if you sit down to eat. As others have said, make sure to ask for the Turkish tea which will helps complement all the food - the warm tea also assists in digestion but we won't go into the science of that here. Ambience won't quite transport you to a foreign land but it's a nice modern dining feel that will give you the feel of eating in Turkish/Moroccan bazaars with all the commotion from the kitchen. Definitely a recommend and great value for your money. read more
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More info about Efes
1 Whitechapel Rd
London E1 6TY
United Kingdom
Whitechapel, Shoreditch
Directions
020 7377 9255
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.efeslondon.com/
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Efes - turkish - Updated August 2026
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