Sava tac, lamb chops, calamari, lahmajun and mozzarella pide. All were served fairly quickly in succession, and were individually tasty and clean. This is a family owned business, the attentiveness and customer service here shows it. Interior is moderately spacious, with a nice outdoor seatery as the weather warms up. Now as much as I like to keep hidden gems like this tucked away from the world to mitigate lines, I just had to share a review after our last visit. 5*! read more

I highly recommend the kibbeh appetizer. It was so flavorful with the spicy meat inside which went so well with the yogurt sauce! The homemade bread was also really good from how fluffy and fresh it was. I also really enjoyed the pide, however I wish it came with a little more meat to even out the bites on the side. The milk pudding and turkish tea were also great! The dessert wasn't too sweet and it did pair with the bitter notes of tea. My least favorite dish was the manti as it tasted pretty bland. I think after having the flavor explosion from the appetizer, this was a whole 180. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't get it again. Aside from this, everything was fantastic including the service! read more

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Definitely a hidden gem! Really enjoyed the food here. Started off with complimentary bread and butter, which was fluffy and had a nice touch with sesame. Loved the kibbeh, which was delicious both inside and out. The manti was rather flavourless with the dough and meat unfortunately, even with the yogurt sauce. The sucuk pide was tasty too, especially once you get more into the center of the pieces with cheese away from the crust, but I wish there was more beef per bite. Loved the kazandibi, as it was light and nicely spiced with cinnamon. It went quite well with the complimentary tea. I'd come again if I was in the area! read more

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The owner personally made sure every guest was happy, going out of his way to make us feel welcome -- you could tell hospitality is truly a priority here, not just an afterthought. We ordered a wonderful spread to share: Lamb Shish, Lamb Shank, Adana Kebab, Sac Tava, and Lahmacun. Every single dish was cooked to perfection -- tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The Lamb Shank practically fell off the bone, the Adana Kebab had just the right amount of spice, and the Lahmacun was crispy and packed with flavor. It truly was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Highly recommend Efesus Mediterranean Cafe to anyone craving authentic Turkish cuisine paired with genuinely warm service. We'll definitely be back! read more

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I'm so happy that I chose to try this new spot out! The first thing I noticed upon walking in was just how clean the spot was! The entryway, corners, tables, literally everything was super clean. We were immediately shown to a table and the server was super friendly and made awesome recommendations. She made suggestions on ways to eat the food and it's not overbearing at all. She even gave us a free dessert! You'll definitely be back! We've already told several friends about how tasty the food was, how great the service was, and how clean the restaurant was in general. The food is definitely Mediterranean, you'll find several Turkish dishes. The flavoring was absolutely incredible. If you haven't had this type of food before, I suggest that you bring a friend and share several of the dishes. There's outdoor seating available, but since it was winter, and we had a ton of snow, we obviously sat inside. I can't wait until summer to sit outside, have some tasty drinks, and enjoy the delicious food! read more

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We ordered through Uber Eats and the food was so OK. It wasn't that great at all. It was just all right. It wasn't that tasty at all. We will never be ordering from here again!! Pretty sad, isn't it? We will never be ordering from here again!! read more

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The food is fantastic and the people are wonderful and gracious. They go far out of their way which reflects the care they give to the food and customers. The location has ample parking, accessibility, and is very warm and clean inside. It's cozy with a nice background music, kept at a good level for conversation.But, even if you're flying solo, it is welcoming and comfortable. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

We learned of Efesus Cafe, located in the original part of Ashburn, when we were invited to an event at Anatolian Bistro. The owner was working on adding more healthy items to his menu and invited people to come in and sample them. We liked what we sampled and let him know. As we were leaving, he handed us a menu for Efesus Cafe which is owned by the wife of the owner of Anatolian Bistro. Efesus Cafe bills itself as a "Mediterranean Restaurant". The menu also has foods from Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey and Albania. It's not upscale and definitely casual. The small shopping center where they're located also has an Orthodox church in it. No doubt, when the church has events or masses, people will end up going to Efesus for a meal. We were here on a Saturday for an early dinner. At the time, the parking lot was almost full as the church had something going on. Upon entering Efesus Cafe, we were immediately greeted and seated at a circular four top table in a corner right by a window. Our server was friendly and efficient. He brought a bottle of cold tap water, which we appreciated. To start, we chose "Spicy Ezme" from the "cold starters" section of the menu. "Spicy Ezme" consists of a mix of minced tomatoes, peppers, mint, parsley and herbs. Some homemade bread also accompanies the dish. We enjoyed this starter; the medium spiciness was just right and didn't drown out the other flavors. The only complaint we had (if you can even call it a complaint) is we would have liked more bread. We ended up running out of bread and couldn't finish all of the Spicy Ezme. I ordered "Kofte" for my main course. It consists of: "Grilled ground beef patties served with white rice, and sumac onion." I grew up eating "Chofta" as the Albanians call the same dish. I was surprised at how thin the ground beef patties were here and they were a bit overcooked. The ones my mother and grandmother would make were smaller and thicker. The dish is served with a very nice moist pilaf. The bit of onion that came with the meal was lightly grilled. Even though I took a photo of this dish, for some reason it didn't come out. My husband ordered "Lamb chops" which consisted of: "Grilled and seasoned lamb chops served with a side of white rice and vegetable. The chops were cooked medium rare to medium and were quite tasty. The roasted vegetables that accompanied both dishes were cooked tender crisp. For dessert we had baklava; I ordered Turkish tea and my husband ordered Turkish coffee. The baklava was quite fresh with a nice honey flavor and a generous amount of pistachios. They also serve some Italian items such as pasta and a Margherita pizza. Also, one of the "Hot starters" is Albanian liver (Arnavut cigeri). We both agree that we would like to return and try other items. read more

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Hidden gem! Great service, amazing food. Picture is of the chicken Adana kebab. Also had their sigara, cheese pide, fettuccine Alfredo ( trust me is good) and salmon. Will be coming back. read more

Efesus Cafe - chicken Adana kebab. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

Located a bit by itself and off to the side but worth checking out if you're craving mediterranean food/lamb! It has a very homey feel from the restaurant/cafe itself to the food when its served! The workers were very friendly and checked on how the food was too. Rice - came with the lamb dishes but making its own section because it was really yummy! seasoned nicely, plump and soft. 3.75/5 Lahmacun - essentially a super thin pizza. Its good and perfect to share with 4 people since its cut into 4 slices! Was good but nothing too special. I liked it with the red onions on top and lemon 2.75/5 Lamb shish - A little chewier but had really nice flavor from the seasoning and the cook! 3.5/5 Lamb Shank - Fall off the bone, extremely tender, good with the tomato sauce! Not dry but also not juicy but the tenderness makes up for it. Huge portion, the leg could defnitely be shared 3.75./5 Spicy chicken with yogurt - not my personal type of flavor. chicken was cooked nicely. the sauce is like a spicy buffalo sauce but i dont actually like buffalo sauce lol. yogurt mellows it out and makes it extra creamy. I liked that there is bread in it but i think it would be better if it was separate since they got too soggy while eating. 2/5 read more

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Arrived on a weekday during lunch hours so there was no wait. Service was prompt and friendly, food was delicious.

The food was delicious! The service and the hospitality was one of a kind. We have been to Turkey before and this restaurant took us back to the dishes we shared with locals in their country. Try the rakı! read more

Very nice place. Very clean and inviting from when you first walk in. Nice varied menu which features some great dishes. I had the chicken shish after the hummus app. Rice pudding was the best dessert. Friendly staff, very good prices, great experience. read more

Efesus Cafe - Inside view - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

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We got the spicy chicken and tzatziki, Manti, Beef Pide and the baklava and all of it was delicious! Great food and good service - we will be back. read more

Efesus Cafe - Manti - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

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Delicious food and great service!!! The restaurant is so clean and welcoming. Our server was very sweet and recommended the efesus chicken. I loved it !! Highly recommend read more

Efesus Cafe - Efesus Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

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We had dinner there on 5/26/2024. It's a quaint little restaurant. We had grape leaves and Baba Ganoush as an appetizer. The grape leaves were tasty, could have used some salt. The baba ganoush was very tasty, also needed some salt. My wife had the Chicken Steak. The chicken had a nice char, slightly overcooked but still ver tasty. The rice was cooked perfectly, also lacked salt. There was nice assortment of roasted vegetables on the plate. The yogurt sauce was tasty. I had the Hunkar Begendili Lamb. It was very tasty. Lamb was slightly overcooked but still delicious. The sauce for the lamb was delicious. The eggplant puree was creamy, very tasty. The rice was cooked perfectly, definitely needed salt. Overall, a very fresh, tasy meal. The staff were very friendly. We would go back and recommend this restaurant. read more

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Nice Turkish place, lady owner was nice and food was decent, I will go for dinner again.

Very cute and picturesque Turkish cafe/restaurant in ash urn. Staff are super nice and polite. Food was phenomenal. The begendili spicy chicken and Lahmacun was super good. Very happy to try different ethnic food read more

Great fresh food, lots of flavor and friendly people. Highly recommend it for any occasion.

This is the new restaurant in town. They have a Turkish / Mediterranean spin on food. Simple clean flavors that work. Service was spot on and helpful. This location has had issues with the previous 2 restaurants but the owner has experience with another location in Herndon and that one is very successful. I wish them luck. Locally owned is a plus. My only minor complaint is was the napkins,they were the cheap giant kind. It doesn't match the plating, or the silverware. read more

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Nice ambiance, friendly staff and delicious food! All the dishes we got were very flavorful. I really liked the spicy beef sucuk, just wished there was a bit more of it on the flatbread. Definitely would come back when I'm in the area! read more

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Our party ordered the following to share: Conan salad, baba ganoush, spicy ezme, Albanian liver, sigara boregi, kofte, and lamb adana. Everything was absolutely delicious ! Perfectly seasoned! Jamal was a fantastic host and was attentive to our table. We would definitely return when we're back in town. Highly recommend! read more

This place is wonderful. The homemade bread is warm and was fresh out of the oven when I went. Both the Greek and Coban salads are excellent! The kebabs and lahmucen are yummy and the babaganush is top tier! Go here. You won't be disappointed. read more

Quiet little gem in a strip mall off Old Ashburn Road. Excellent salads, and any of the grilled meats are delicious. Portion size is generous. Their baklava is to die for - not too sweet and the texture is a real treat. I'm a big fan of the Greek salad with a chicken kebab, hummus and some of ggs baklava to take home. Service is prompt and courteous- they remember what you like and can make intelligent suggestions for other things you might like. It's always quiet and it's a good place to talk and get to know someone. Recommended. read more

We've known Cemal from Anatolian Bistro restaurant in Herndon where we enjoyed many dinners over the past years, however living in Leesburg we couldn't go as often as we would have liked. This is why we were excited to hear he was opening another location in Ashburn much closer to home and couldn't wait for him to open. He finally did and we came right away. The place looks great: simple yet elegant, servers are very attentive and courteous, and of course the food was delicious and elegantly served as we expected! We found the menu here much more diverse with Mediterranean fare with offerings to accommodate different palates. We enjoyed a very fresh, delicate, and flavorful Greek salad, followed by a perfect Lamb shank and Begendili Spicy Chicken, and couldn't resist a sumptuous Katmer to share as dessert! Cemal, the owner was welcoming and friendly as always and we are sure he will make this place at least as good as his other one. We have a new go to destination when we feel like eating out well, in style, and without breaking the bank. read more

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Excellent food, prepared with perfect seasoning. Recommended both for takeout or in their comfortable and neat dining room. Attentive staff seals the deal for a fantastic meal. read more

One of the first restaurants I took Co. to after moving to Ashburn, VA. It did not disappoint. We had a lovely time and delicious food with excellent service. I would not hesitate to dine there again. The Efrsus Chicken was just the kind of comfort food I needed after a big move across 3 states! read more

Efesus Cafe - My two sister-in-laws enjoying the appetizer and delicious bread at Efesus. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

The food is 10/10. this restaurant is impressive, clean, fresh, tasty, good food presentation, the portion is reasonable, good price, great friendly customer service. will definitely visit again. We need more quality restaurants in loudoun county like this place. Big thank you to all the staff :) read more

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Great food and experience for a father/daughter working lunch. Very fresh food. And the tastes truly brought us back to my visit to Istanbul in the early 2000's. I will return many times in the future. read more

Efesus Cafe - Far picture is the beef sucuk cheesy flatbread and near is the Canu-shaped beef flatbread. Both were tremendous!!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

We had Efesus catered for lunch at work. It was so outstanding that I had to leave a review. This is arguably the best Mediterranean I have ever had. Highly recommend to all. read more

So clean, polite and delicious. We had falafel, lamb chops, eggplant and Adana chicken kabob. Cooked to perfection. You can't ask for more!

If you like Mediterranean food and don't come here you will miss out. It's a small family owned family cooked restaurant. They are genuine, sincere, and attentive. Food like your friend's Greek grandma made around the holidays. OUTSTANDING!!!! read more

Had a great late lunch here on way to Dulles on Sunday. Very nice clean seating area with a view to kitchen. Loved the Tzatziki and the lamb Kabob. Very fresh and flavorful. The Turkish coffee will have to suffice for Raki (their liquor license comes in about a week), and we are promised to have some Turkish Reds! The staff is really sweet - we got a Rice Pudding comp'd at the end. Of course, we will return! read more

The good: service was quick though we were the only people there. We had 6 people so tried a variety of things. Apps are very small and the bread portion tiny for the dips. The liver was very tasty as were the trio of dips we had. My daughter got the chicken dish with eggplant sauce and it was fantastic. My yogurt chicken I wouldn't order again. Same for the Sac dish. The shish dishes were decently sized but pretty standard. The sauce on my yogurt chicken tasted a LOT like franks wing sauce. Prices were quite high. Almost 200$ for 6 after tip and one beer and two cans of soda, no other drinks. Soda is not refillable. I was disappointed honestly given the write up I read. read more

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Highly recommend! I rarely leave reviews on restaurants but Efesus Cafe is just that good! This place is a gem. Fresh, homemade food. Wonderful staff. Wish I could give it 10 stars. read more

The food is just outstanding. You can tell it is prepared with great care. The staff is always so friendly and respectful. You can tell they want you to love your meal, which isn't hard to do. Great meal in a great atmosphere. I have been back for takeout or dine-in at least twice a week since discovering the place. Outstanding overall! read more

The food, the service and the ambiance is fantastic. I would most highly recommend Efesus Cafe as the best tasting Mediterranean food that I have had. Please support this restaurant!!! You will absolutely love it!!! read more

Efesus Cafe - Mixed Grill with Chicken Adana - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

Food was lacking in the flavor department. Liver was not good. Minimal spice and deep fried with a nasty aftertaste. The descriptions of the food sound a lot more enticing than what actually comes out. Ordered Begendeli spicy chicken and received chicken with Frank's Red Hot Buffalo sauce (at least that's what it tasted like). The food is also extremely expensive for the small portion size you get. Don't recommend. I'm giving a single star for the nice staff. Edit: I wanted to point out that you can find better Turkish food that's cheaper and worth the money as opposed to this place. Seems like the owner is reverting to ad hominem when they know nothing about me or the culinary experiences I've had...love to see it! read more

Great food! Generous portion. Just the right amount of spice. I definitely recommend this restaurant. The staff was friendly and courteous also. My takeout order was ready on time. read more

Efesus Cafe - Chicken Adana Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

I dined here with my family and it was amazing! Delicious food, great atmosphere and amazing service! We loved it! The spicy chicken begendili is a must try! read more