I was introduced to this restaurant by a co-worker who lives in the Bronx who travels all the way around to Hackensack to eat here and swears by the authenticity and taste of the food they serve. Initial impression: absolutely attentive staff & equally affable managers/owners who generously take their time to explain or answer questions we may have with regards to the cuisine or our food choices. The food is nothing short of amazing! The appetizers that we had were the tabouleh, babaganoush, hummus and the calf's liver served with a side of salad and warm, soft pita bread. The cold apps were so remarkably fresh that I could almost devour most of them to myself. The calf's liver was so tender and "melt in your mouth" amazing that I nearly ordered another one but restrained myself because we had ordered entrées ahead too. The hostess did suggest we try this yoghurt drink which was tart (because of yoghurt) with a bit of a pleasantly salty aftertaste. We had the lamb chops and combination kebabs- the meats are well seasoned and the char on the grilled lamb chops only made it more delicious as it was tender and juicy. Capped off the night with recommendations from their dessert offerings- we had decided on having kunafe and were offered the kazandibe along with Turkish tea. What's noteworthy is that I'm not a sweet tooth but these two desserts you should not skip while you're there. They have the usual baklava too but if I wanted to try something I've not tried before. The kunafe was perfect- soft and chewy cheese drizzled with honey and almonds surrounded by that crispy thin noodle like wafers. The kazandibe was a revelation - so light and with that lightly burnt caramel aftertaste is a delight to taste buds. They are BYOB by the way, so bring in a bottle of your favorite wine to serve with your meal to elevate your food trip all the more and boy, this restaurant will not disappoint! read more

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What is not to love about this place?! First, the staff was very friendly and they tend to your needs. Secondly, the food was AMAZING! The menu was clear and to the point and provided images and the staff were able to give you recommendations and made it very hospitable. The restaurant was very clean and they played nice mellow music. I am going to be a regular at this restaurant. Love love loved it! Shoutout to Aleyna and Cemre for the great service! read more

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Great place for great dood and great service with great food We had liver plate and was delicious and tasty Lamb and another dish ( I didn't to take pic due to gobbling the food sorry) start with ad went great with red wine we brought which he recommended was all amazing. read more

El Turco Grill - Nice place - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Apparently new owners who were not even there. Lamb over cooked, falafel burned, one dish never made it to the table Use to be a good restaurant. Would not recommend it now read more

Always good food.. the people who work there are always nice to me. Clean and comfortable place.

It was my husband and I first time eating at El Turco. We had the Greek Salad with shrimp and Shepherd salad with chicken. Food and Service very excellent. Nice Ambience. We wil definitely good back. Highly recommend read more

It's hard to earn a five star rating on 100+ reviews on Yelp, so we decided to stop here on our way to the Catskills, and we were not disappointed. I don't think I've ever had a better Lamb Adana, the meat was perfectly flavored, tender, and juicy. I want to figure out what their recipe is. Even the starter salad was delicious, perfect zinginess of the red wine vinegar over fresh vegetables. The bread with the lebne was perfect as well, the kids devoured it. The lamb chops were delicious, although for the price we expected more than four of them. Next time, we'll order some extra. We had some takeaway desserts, the cream pastry and the baklava, both excellent even the next day. The vibe was very friendly, the kids were welcomed and asked for their name, and staff regularly checked in and offered extras for the kids. The place itself is basic but just right in ambiance, a real family restaurant vibe. We're definitely making this an obligatory stop on our next Catskills trip! read more

El Turco Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

This place was delicious and I'll be back especially for the Kunefe. Also the food was fresh, tasty and nicely portioned. The chicken and falafel weren't dry as I sometimes find at other Mediterranean places so I'd definitely recommend. Staff and service were friendly and attentive. Great place for lunch, dinner, dates etc... read more

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I've been coming here for a few years. The bummer is that they changed the menu around a bit. Everything shrunk. The French Fries are gone which we loved and were always cooked to perfection and they got rid of the red cabbage salad the roasted peppers and tomatoes are gone as well. Also the portions of the rice were reduced. read more

We have been coming here since it opened. The food was always amazing but recently the quality has begun to change. We went yesterday and the lamb was very greasy and very thin like paper thin. The cabbage salad was gone and instead it was a regular green lettuce salad. Not sure whats going on but why mess with something that was already so delicious. Please bring back the old chef. We ate the food but left with such a stomache from the lamb. Service is great! read more

So happy we found this place...amazing food, amazing service.... The staff and owner were just so friendly and the logos was just as great. Great atmosphere and BYO ... we will be going back soon.... read more

El Turco Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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One of the best Turkish Mediterranean restaurants I have ever been to! The food is plenty and delicious, beautifully decorated, and so friendly! We came as a group of 10 and sat in the middle of the cozy restaurant. We ordered 2 Shepard salads, 2 foursome dips (hummus, babaganoush, eggplant in tomato sauce, spicy pepper) and 2 livers. The service was impeccable and the food was so delicious that after all the apps, we were somewhat full. But we ordered the mixed grill and that was amazing!! We got to try the chicken, gyro, lamb and beef kobab. Spice level was great and even my two little kids liked the chicken. To top it off, the owner was so friendly and was right by our table for our needs. He even let us try his falafel and it was delicious. We were sad we didn't have any room for dessert but will definitely come back! read more

It's great to see a Turkish restaurant in Hackensack. There used to be one a few years ago but they closed down. The Lamb shish and chicken shish kebobs were flavorful and the meat was tender. I also liked the rice side as well. The eggplant stuffed with tomatoes and onions had Moroccan flavors. It was also good. First time trying stuffed eggplant so I'm not sure that's how they are supposed to taste. My issue is with the tabbouli salad. I've never had one with couscous instead of bulgur. My problem with couscous is that it's pasta. It soaks up the dressing. I also don't like the texture. I prefer the more rustic texture and flavor of bulgur and it's healthier. I liked the lemony dressing flavor they used but I won't order the tabbouli again because it's couscous salad basically. read more

El Turco Grill - Combination of chicken and lamb shish kebob - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Some of the best Mediterranean food I've had anywhere! The Babaganoush was smoky and light, the Spinach Pie was crispy outside with a perfectly seasoned filling and the Gyro/Adana Kabob combination platter was juicy and flavorful. Also had the best Baklava The owner and servers were also very kind and accommodating! Will be back! read more

We had to drive two hours to run an errand in the area. We were so hungry and one of us is a vegan (me) so this was a pleasantly delicious surprise. WOW! The homemade food is authentic and just so yummy! 100% recommended! read more

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SO YUMMY! I came here with my high school friend and we shared a salad and each got combination plates. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed our time. The staff was accommodating and super friendly. There is a very peaceful & cozy vibe to this spot. We came in on a rainy Monday night and the tables were filled - always a good sign :) Even though it was filled, we weren't pressured to give up our table at all. The staff even gave us free dessert because they saw we were enjoying our time catching up! I wish this business the best of luck, I'll definitely be back. read more

Great food and service. Good value. Went here with my three young kids and they loved the food.

Was looking to for dinner and used Yelp to find this place. Was excited to try a Turkish restaurant outside of our usual neighborhood places,. Ordered a mezze combination and a salad for a vegetarian meal. Also had the lentil soup. The soup was one of the best we've had in a while, with a bit of heat. Mezze was generous, with excellent Lebni and babganoush. Other sides were good but perhaps not our favorite renditions. That said, we will be coming back. The meat plates (201) 981-6186 other tables looked good. Pleasant storefront ambience, excellent service, and overall a nice meal. read more

Came in for dinner tonight with my husband. We ourselves are middle eastern so the bar is set high. This place was warm and welcoming. The owner went out of his way to make sure we were happy with everything. And everything was delicious! Our favorites were the mix salad opener, chicken shish and there was a sweet white dessert with pistachios that was amazing. 5 stars for service and food. Will def come back and highly recommend. read more

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Thank you El Turco for delicious vegan food great staff and service The outdoor seating in the shade is a big PLUS. We highly recommend! read more

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I found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try because I was in town on business. The atmosphere was very inviting. My server was pleasant, knowledgeable, and very helpful in many recommendations. I ended up with the lunch special kebab. It came with the most delightful salad featuring best flavors! The main course was a generous portion of chicken, rice, and another salad. I would definitely make it a point to visit here again! read more

This place is to die for a hidden gem for sure. The food is made to order and fresh the owner and staff are so kind and everything I've tried is so delicious. We started off with the mix appetizer with the eggplant in tomato, baba ghanoush, spicy dip ezme ( my favorite), and cold grape leaves the only thing I didn't like because I like them warm. We also got the shepherd salad and they were both 10/10 lastly we got the el turco mix it's made to order super fresh flavorful and everything in the dish is a 10/10 I would not change anything. Please go try this place it's phenomenal. read more

El Turco Grill - El Turco Mix - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I came here with my family on a Saturday night and had a great experience! Reservations are available online on their website and parking was really easy to find. The place is very cozy and the staff is attentive and polite. If it's your first time, I highly recommend ordering the Mixed Kebab plate and splitting it with another person. It's delicious and has 4 different types of meat to try. If you're open to trying new food, the Kuzu Sote and Calf's liver are also very delicious. Overall, I thought this place is great for lunch, dinner, or delivery! read more

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I ordered from GrubHub the salad had like a half of a cup of canned corn in it I've never seen a Mediterranean salad with corn in it much less canned corn. Also the salad dressing was terrible tasted like pretty much nothing but canola oil. The grape leaves tasted old and they were tasteless no seasoning and once again tasted like cheap oil the eggplant dish tasted like old and like canned tomatoes it was not seasoned well at all. The french fries were soggy and a weird texture like cheap fries from restaurant depot. Major disappointment. read more

Awesome! Come try for your self. You will be wOw'd be the fantastic food and the friendly people. After three delicious experiences I am most pleased tto make this a regular dining experience. Most traditional fresh foods. Quality ingredients, prepared with care! read more

El Turco Grill - Finger meat balls - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Amazing restaurant with such an amazing owner. The owners hospitality is unmatched. It felt like I was in Turkey. THE FOOD is amazing!!!!! It's also not expensive!!! I got the El turco grill with the mixed appetizer. Was an amazing meal! the meat is so fresh too because usually when I eat Mediterranean food, it takes longer to digest. However, this meal did not make me feel sluggish or tired. Thank you Yussef for an amazing experience! read more

Excellent food. We had the stuffed eggplant and lentil soup for appetizers. They were delicious! For main courses we had a vegetarian spinach, peppers, onions and tomato dish over rice and the chicken kebab. Both were outstanding. The restaurant is in downtown Hackensack within walking distance of stores and parking. Would highly recommend. read more

El Turco Grill - Our 2 main courses, a vegetarian spinach dish and the chicken kebab. - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

2nd time we have eaten from this restaurant. 1st experience we did takeout and it was great. 2nd visit, my husband and I stopped here for an early dinner. We started with Hummus which was excellent - creamy with fresh pita. I had Donor Gyro Kebab and my husband the Combo platter with Lamb and Adana kebab. Meat was delicious and rice, fries and salad were also nicely done. I do give a restaurant extra credit when they pay attention to the quality of the sides and these were top notch. We also split kunafe for dessert and they gave us each a complimentary hot tea. Very yummy. Interior is very nice and warm and very clean. Excellent dinner. Thank you! read more

Ordered take out and it was packed perfectly and it was hot when it arrived on time. El turco mix was delicious. The Turkish soup was outstanding and was bursting with flavor. The el mix appetizer was really good too, large portions of dips. They also sent a free dessert. Def will be ordering again. read more

El Turco Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Just had lunch at this amazing- nice quaint Mediterranean restaurant. The food was incredible! The El Turco mixed platter was so delicious I had to order one to go! This is a must try anytime you're in Hackensack, NJ. Thank you for having us El Turco!! read more

An amazing Turkish experience, very good food and the best attentive service! I will be back for sure! We are the combination shish kabab and the lamb shish kabab, also tried the Shepard salad and the mix appetiser , I have no comments beside saying that the food was amazing ! read more

El Turco Grill - Combination , simply amazing . Additionally we tried the mix appetiser and the shepherd salad, Amazing !!!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I was a customer for very long time with the old owner. I was coming there. Everything was perfect delicious the price was good. This last year the change owner the change all the menus change everything I did not like the menus at all. I order something I got something else Without even telling me it's changed the order all the price I will never go back there read more

I love el turco grill a hidden gem in Hackensack. The first time I came here they had just opened. The owner gave us free tea and baklava at the end of our meal. My favorite dish to get is the el turco mix. Me and my boyfriend usually share and get a side of cheese cigar rolls. You have to have to try the mango drink. Pairs very well with the meal. The workers are very nice i always ask for extra white sauce me and my boyfriend are obsessed with it. Sometimes we even are able to take home left overs due to how much food is served. Love this place. Would i come back? Yes, i need to start going more often. Worth the money? Of course ! read more

El Turco Grill - Mango Juice - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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DISGUSTING CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! Ignorant workers and Chef does not even know their own dish!!! I asked if there is anything spicy in the kofte dish and he says nothing spicy at all!!!! I GET A HUGE SPICY GREEN PEPPER IN THE DISH!!! ridiculous! Pictures lie and the chef lies. I explained I have allergies with the chef and that I will be ordering through uber but he sends the dish with a huge pepper!!! It appears as if they did it intentionally just because I asked a couple of times about the menu and they got so agitated about helping a customer. Unbelievable. They knew my order was coming through ubereats in a few minutes and I told them my name. This is a criminal act. I even called to demand a refund, the lady owner could care less if I ate the spicy food and have a severe allergic reaction. She yells at me saying to escalate this to the cops to get a refund. And then she goes bipolar on me and she threatens to call the police without even apologizing or feeling any remorse and hangs up on me. She is RUDE AND CRAZY. I will put a police report through for these people threatening me and lying about their menu risking my life. They have no sense of basic customer service. HORRIBLE ATTITUDE. Disgusting. She even lies in this comment that I called 9 times to ask about the menu. I only called 3 times because she was so clueless about her own food. I already called to ask if there was anything spicy in the dish and he said there wasn't so why do I have to notate about not putting anything spicy? And when I called to ask the chef if there is anything spicy he said no. But when I said I have allergies he said he can make it extra spicy. Seriously??? A complete joke and she even lies in the reply to this review to make herself look decent. LOL. You guys will know once you order from her exactly what I'm talking about. I needed help figuring out the kunefe dish and they didn't even know their own dish. They kept telling me it's the zucchini pancakes: I figured it out myself. And the workers get agitated from me asking about it. NEVER ORDERING AGAIN HERE. Worst experience! read more

El Turco Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

The best Turkish restaurant in Bergen county. Decided to have Turkish and WOW everything is fantastic in this place. I recommend the Spicy Pepper Dip (Acili Ezme) as the best appetizer ever!!! read more

El Turco Grill - Tender Lamb Chops in the back and Lamb Shish Kabob and Adana Kebab Combo platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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This place has , hands down, the most delicious Turkish food I have had since being in Istanbul. The husband and wife owners and operators are extremely accommodating and friendly . The food was fantastic , service great , don't let The road construction stop You from going to enjoy . It's worth the walk from around the corner side street parking.. JUST GO and ENJOY. read more

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Delicious food, friendly service. It's byob. Lamb is probably the best choice. Definitely recommend. read more

El Turco Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

This place is awesome! I travel all the way from Staten Island NY to come to this restaurant. The service is amazing and the food is the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Excellent everything!! The food was amazing! So fresh and flavorful! Great service too. The tabouli was bursting with flavor and all the dishes were beautifully plated. Highly recommend this restaurant! Can't wait to go back again read more

Delicious Mixed Kebab Plate and El Turco Mix, relaxing ambiance, very good and friendly service. read more

El Turco Grill - El Turco Mix - Mediterranean Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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