Go hungry! This will be the only meal you'll need or want for the day. The food from starters, mains and dessert are all incredibly flavorful and the portions generous, so you're going to want to be hungry enough to try a little of everything! A couple of Greek friends recommended this restaurant and my husband and I were very excited to meet them for lunch yesterday as it's always a good idea to follow where the natives eat After yesterday, I don't think I could eat Greek food anywhere else in London. This is THE place to go for an authentic Greek meal. The Kazolides family have been running the restaurant since 1966 and I can see why they have been so successful through the decades! They gained a new loyal fan - I'm hooked. Food is simple, fresh and perfectly seasoned and prepared. We ordered a wide variety of starters and grilled meats - everything was top quality. Needless to say, we were all stuffed and were grateful to the server for wrapping up the kebabs we didn't quite finish to take home. A few favorites that I highly recommend include: - Greek Sausages (Loukanika): This was my first time trying these and loved the mix of spices and slightly smoky taste. - Tzatziki: I've had this cool, creamy & tangy cucumber dish before, but this was the best version I've had. They nailed the balance of flavors. Very addicting and was especially good with the chicken kebabs later in the meal. - Saganaki (Pan fried Greek cheese): It's hard to resist a fried cheese dish! No idea what kind of cheese they used, but its crispy pan fried outside and melty center was yum! - Lamb on Spit: I ordered the Chicken Kebabs as they are my usual favorite and they were wonderful, but after a bite of this lamb cooked on the spit, I think it might be my new favorite (at least here anyway). Wow, no clue how they get the lamb so tender and the slight charred bites from the spit add an amazing meaty flavor. - Galaktoboureko (Custard in Phyllo Dough): I was going to order the baklava but my friends encouraged me to try this one since I've never had it. Again, their recommendation was right on. Cool custard inside a flaky phyllo dough drizzled with a light honey syrup - dee-licious! - Greek wine: Selected a Greek red, which was a nice pairing. I'll need to keep an eye out for Greek wines in the future. Atmosphere is intimate and casual with closely placed tables and brightly colored table covers. It can be quite crowded and hard to move around, but I think it's part of the charm - it feels and tastes like a family owned and operated restaurant. Service was speedy and friendly. Overall a remarkable experience! Note: Be sure to make a booking ahead to ensure you get a table. Or, they also have takeaway service if you can't get a spot :) read more

Extremely mediocre in more ways than one...service was shockingly poor if you are not a regular customer. Based on my observation however, service could be phenomenally amazing if you are a regular customer! Additionally disappointing, the food was extraordinarily subpar: for example, I tasted the driest chicken kabob imaginable...the spanakopita was extremely dry and chewy! The lamb casserole tasted overcooked. The pita bread was packaged, and we sent it back in the hopes that it didn't go to waste. The service was extremely lacking. I mentioned to a waiter that we found them through YELP, and they responded that while the owner reads the Yelp reviews, he doesn't give much notice, as he is already extremely busy and successful. I could never recommend this restaurant to anyone! read more

Eating here was a religious experience even an atheist would appreciate. The Klefticon lamb was perfect! The staff was friendly and they accommodated our group without a reservation on a busy night. A excellent Greek meal served with an excellent Greek wine. Definitely a highlight of our recent visit to London. read more

Yeah. So this is 5 stars in the local family-run ethnic food category. It's not fancy or fussy, but it is delicious. You will come here for the Klefticon, the fall-off-the-bone, slow-cooked lamb that Greek food is famous for. You'll press lightly on the meat with the back of the fork and notice it squish softly onto the side of the plate. You'll cut a piece of roasted potato, and drive it around your plate into the meat drippings, picking up a few bits of roasted onion and fat. It will be delicious but so huge you can't even finish. You'll want to save the rest for breakfast. Before that, you will have feasted on big and juicy olives, both black and green. You will have cleansed your palette with radishes, green onions, and peppers. You'll order a bottle of wine and ask, "What part of Greece is it from?" The answer: "I have no idea. The good part." After ordering it, you'll accept that, yes, wherever it was, it was from the good part. On your way out, as you gush to the owner about the lamb, he will proudly show you the dusty celebrity photos of London's famous who come here for a fantastic and fuss-free meal. Gluten-free notes: Most Greek food is naturally gluten-free. You will eat very well with few restrictions. Beware the moussaka -- the traditional recipe calls for flour. read more

Have to say, I was not impressed, especially given its reputation. I had the lamb kebab. It was pretty blah and needed a sauce or something to spice it up. I ate it with my friend's tzatziki sauce and it improved the taste, but not by much. The pita wasn't very fresh tasting as well. Service was weak, menu was overpriced. I wouldn't go back. read more

For a great price, Halepi offers huge portions of very tasty food. In addition, it appears to be undiscovered by tourists, and thus has a wonderful, warm, neighborhood feel to it! Four of us ordered: - Hallumi (oh my goodness! I am still craving this! It's a very simple appetizer, but, as my cousin said, how can you go wrong with salty, grilled cheese? Would do multiple orders of this) - Hummus with pita and vegetables (hot peppers, radishes, etc.) - Greek Salad - 3 orders of Baby Lamb (which literally came out as a beautiful piece of meat on the bone - a very large portion) That feast + 2 bottles of fantastic wine (Boutari Grand Reserve, I think) + coffee / tea = 150GBP for four people (unheard of in London)! :) I get the impression that reservations are strongly recommended :) - this place was bustling! Would definitely return (perhaps for a second meal this week)! ** Hi Alison / Dan! :) read more

It doesn't get any more Greek than this...outside of Greece. From the guy doing the accounting near the kitchen, to the boss of the restaurant and the shepherd barn style wooden interior. It was packed when we arrived without a reservation, but the boss managed to squeeze us in. Another review mentioned you needed to be hungry before coming to Halepi and she wasn't kidding. Serious portions. Go for the mixed appetizer (one portion for two will suffice) which is a mix of dips. And then for the shoulder of lamb. So soft and tender it falls off the bone. Didn't have any place left for dessert. read more

Second day back. First day I had the feta, chicken kebab and rice. It was perfect. Today I had the beef stroganoff and rice. Both times the restaurant was very busy. read more

Love lamb so this place wins on their preparation and seasonings. The moussaka was very flavorful. The portion sizes are good and the ambiance is pretty authentic. My only caution is that the staff is really good at updates so the check was steep. Oh yeah, lastly...skip the dessert. Not as good as authentic (from Greece) pretty dry and almost stale flavor. Had both the baklava and glactobarouki... glactobarouki was the better of the two. read more

Pros: Wonderful ambiance, close to the Bayswater tube station, a 5-minute walk from Hyde Park, and great service. The owner is this adorable little Greek man that circulated the room and made us feel like we were eating in his home. We had the hummus and it was absolutely outstanding. They also brought out an array of olives, fresh radishes, peppers, and hot pita that you could make a meal out of on it's own. Lamb was pretty good, although not the best I've had in London. They brought out these unusual jelly desserts at the end that were very tasty. Some tasted like lemon, and another one tasted like rose water. Very interesting. My husband and I still talk about those little jellies! Cons: house wine. Not the best I've ever had. Kinda disappointing in a Greek restaurant. Basically, the pros far outweigh the cons. Give this place a try! We loved it. read more

Four of us had dinner here recently. We were all very happy with out meals. As mentioned in other reviews Halepi has a family feel to it. It is a bit crowded but that adds to the Greek taverna atmosphere. Service was personal and friendly. We were not very original with three of us ordering moussaka but it was very good. Looking at some of the other tables of those who appeared to be regulars, I wish there would have been some explanation of some of the options. The place fills up quickly but they do take reservations. Halepi is a nice change from the restaurants nearby on Queens Way. I would return. read more

Great food. Good prices. The Lamb Musaka is very good. The humous is also incredible. read more

Halepi - Lamb Musaka - Greek Near Me - London, XGL

There is a good vibe to this place. I was shocked at first when I walked in to the place (I was invited and thought it will look like all restaurants i have been to)... it was crowded and tables were have hardly any space between them. The table cloths are so colourful and there is barely room to move in, but you find people enjoying the time, staff that smile and accomodate you- and to my surprise many celebrities and officials from all over the world, choose this restaurant as the place to eat couple of times a week. The service is immaculate and food is absolutely fresh and delicious. in total I enjoyed my time there and will recommed it to everyone I know... read more

Halepi is without a doubt the most authentic Greek restaurant I've ever been to, but my experience was a bit of a unique one, so I'll go ahead and explain. Primarily, other reviews had said that Halepi had a vegetarian menu, and as I was going out to eat with two vegetarians, I went as far as to call ahead to make sure that this was the case. However, even though I was assured over the phone that there was in fact a vegetarian menu, upon arriving I was told by two different waiters that there were only two vegetarian options available. This was disappointing to say the least. That having been said, the food was absolutely excellent. While a bit on the pricey side (you're paying for the authentic atmosphere here), the pitas were the best I've ever had, and the portion sizes were acceptable and the service was truly sensational. However, after having only been seated for a little over an hour, our party was confronted by a man who appeared to be the owner and was told that we had to leave in order to make room for another party. This truly put a stain on the evening, and I left Halepi with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Overall, my experience may have been rare, and I must reinforce that Halepi is both authentic, friendly and tasty, but being told to leave was truly disappointing. read more

I was quite surprised by this restaurant. I entered and it was moderately busy and I was the only white man in the restaurant. It was inhabited solely by Arabs and that is all that followed. The food was good. It was as if I were eating in Amman with a splash of Athens. I recommend this restaurant. I ordered the lamb kebab plate and it was quite good. I added a side of tzaziki, because life is just better that way. read more

The slow cooked lamb is really the best thing that I could order at Halepi. However, the course is quite massive and I would recommend it only if you're in for a gala dinner, with time to spare. The meat was cooked to perfection and I am not exaggerating as I know how hard it is to cook lamb properly. All the food is presented in this authentic greet plates that I frankly, don't find very inviting but surely helped build a nice atmosphere. I really felt like I was not in London at all. My friend ordered the moussaka which seemed quite delicious and mouth-watering. On trying, it tasted even better, I liked the burst of flavours that intruded my mouth. All was good and the place for me is a solid 5-star restaurant. read more

The food was good one star for that! The guy who i think was owner was very friendly another star for that! The place was very dirty you could see stains on table covers, there was nothing under forks and knives and they were touching the table. If i was not hungry i would probably leave and find a cleaner place that is what a group that came around same time ad me did after seeing the menu i guess price was high for their level of service Owner told me card reader is not working (previous customer waited 20 minutes until it worked for him) or may be he wanted me pay in cash. So if your credit card is not from uk prepare to pay cash ! I was charged extra 1 pound for a some sort of service fee (not tax) that i didn't see it on read more

The service was terrible. The way the waitress treated us made us feel like we owned them money... The food was pricy and was not tasteful... read more

We went because it was really close to our hotel - we'd come back for the food and the service. The waiters are so personable and fun that it made the whole experience worth it. Our table had the spanakopita (8/10 and is a really big portion!), the Greek salad (9/10 really refreshing and has fresh ingredients), the kleftikon (8/10 HUGE portion that comes with sides of fries/potatoes), lamb kebab (8/10 another huge portion). The food was pretty good, nothing that was out-of-this-world-oh-my-god amazing but it was a great time and the service was really 10/10 read more

The best restaurant - EVER! Been going there since I was six months old and it never fails to arouse a sense of euphoria mixed with a mild runner's high. You could order dirt if they served it, and you would take some home and serve it to your mother. I will never visit London and not go to this place. Try anything on the menu and you will not be disappointed. read more

Hadn't been here for years, returning from the rugby in Cardiff and staying with friends who live very close. We were looking for a late Sunday evening dinner. We had tarmasalata Pitts and veggies to start, tarmasalata being well know in this establishment. For mains we had a chicken kebab, a beef kebab, a kleftikon, and a grilled quail to share. Meat quality across the board was excellent, the quail was particularly good. Friendly efficient service, great people watching, if you are in the area give it a try read more

Absolutely amazing food! We came in late and were luckily to get a seat. My friend and I ordered the Meze dish and it was phenomenal. The dishes were so simple and flavorful. Apparently a few famous people have eaten here too. Definitely worth it. read more

Great local restaurant We were seated immediately Service Very attentive; they took the time to walk us through the menu and provide suggestions Food Large portions and well seasoned The food came out relatively fast Environment The have music playing in the background This restaurant is a great setting for large groups Definitely recommend is you are in the area and want to try something new! read more

I have not been to Halepi in several years, but whenever I was in London, I would always go to Halepi's. It is one of my all time favorite restaurants in the world. Great food, ambiance, and service. Take a taxi or walk from the Underground as parking is hard to find especially if dignitaries are there. I've carried their business card with me for years, can't wait to go back read more

Great place with excellent food. Friendly atmosphere. The lamb is outstanding! Note that reservations are a must after about 7 PM.

When in London you must visit the Halepi greek restaurant. Always busy but the Mediterranean food and the service absolutely fantastic. read more

I still salivate when I remember the lamb. Yip, it fell off the bone and straight into my mouth. (These days I don't eat as much meat, but will make an exception for Halepi's lamb.) The decor is trapped in a time warp - no updating done here. It's legendary amongst the locals and has been going for ages so that's always a good sign. It can get very busy and so booking may be advised on traditionally busy nights. There's a friendly and exuberant vibe and staff greeted regulars warmly. I liked the thick curtain in front of the door which kept the place cosy and the bowl of oranges near the door was a nice touch too. read more

This restaurant is tucked away in a quiet area and from the outside it looks warm, friendly, and cosy. Once inside, it is exactly that. The staff are very friendly. They are mostly Greek which add to the authenticity of the restaurant and also means that they can recommend the best dishes. The restaurant is small and slightly cramped, but once the food arrives, you forget about that as you savour the delicious Greek cuisine. They have a variety of dishes and there is guaranteed to be something for everyone. The prices are reasonable as the food is of a very high quality. This is a great lively place to go for a meal if you're after good food and a great atmosphere. read more

The best Greek restaurant in london. No doubt at all. And has been for decades. Heaving every night, very bustling, fantastic fresh food. read more

Halepi - Greek Near Me - London, XGL

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Great and affordable food, just went in for a lamb sandwich which was amazing. Line was long but it didn't take more than 10 mins for my sandwich to be ready read more

Amazing food, generous portions, and decent prices. Octopus Salad - AMAZING Souvla - AMAZING - Best lamb on a spit I have ever eaten. Klefticon - AMAZING - Think of the moistest turkey drumstick, but made of bone in lamb shank, and slow cooked. Mousaka - AMAZING - Tasted like lamb parmigiana. Tons of olives and pita to start your meal. The best meal I ate while was on vacation in London. read more

Nice authentic little spot. I had the Greek sausage to start which I didn't enjoy at all. It was really hard and hurt my mouth. The lamb kleftico was fantastic. Huge portion that was cooked perfectly. They serve you a huge array of radishes, pita bread,olives, pickled peppers and fresh spring onions that could be a meal by itself. One thing I found strange was the £1 cover charge they add to the bill besides the tip. Go check it out. read more

Halepi - Greek Near Me - London, XGL

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Went with the family. Had to wait quite long to get a seat. The only thing we liked was the calamari. The taste of other dishes that we ordered was wayy off. The waiter said the portion would be 1:1 but any of us could barwly finish half of our dishes. If we had known, we would have ordered less. Really expensive and very noisy. Would go with friends but never with family again. read more

Excellent Greek food, super staff, exceedingly friendly and mediterranean atmosphere. My best choice for hearty food. The lamb is just delicious. A must visit read more

Amazing place! Great atmosphere, lovely food! I strongly recommend fresh fishes there. All the meal I was trying there were very good seasoned. One thing which I don't like is the decoration inside. read more

Halepi - Greek Near Me - London, XGL

If this was a judgement on the food itself then I would definitely give them 4 stars. We went out of our way to find this restaurant, and arrived long before their closing time. However the staff told us that the restaurant was closed and we could not be served. Even after pointing out to them that their own website says that they shut at 12:15am the staff would not budge. The manager finally appeared (even though we were told he was not onsite!) and relented. What made it worse was that they said that last orders are at 11:30pm...not only does it not mention this on their website but we had actually arrived there around 11:35pm! read more

Had a Kebab urge while in London, and this definitely hit the spot! Will be back the next time I am in London!

We've been to this restaurant four times during various stays in London. What does that tell you? We keep coming back because the food is so good. We love that it's family-owned and the second time we walked in we were recognized and treated like royalty. It's also nice to come back a few years later and see the same people working there. The food is authentic and therein lies it strength as a restaurant. The hummus is a must order to accompany the pita and veggies/olives that they give you soon after you sit down. The hummus is so smooth and silky. We also keep ordering the fantastic octopus salad. The grilled calamari is very good. Any lamb dish here will be a treat. The servings are very generous. Over tonight's dinner, we struck up a conversation with a nearby table mate who is Greek. He came to school in London and stayed on. He's been coming to Halepi for 20+ years. In order to fully enjoy yourself here, you have to realize that it's like dining in a family house. The wait staff can be welcome and warming one minute and abrupt the next. The decor is simple. Staff sometimes bump your chair as they negotiate the narrow aisles. But in the end, it just feels like you're eating authentic, traditional food in someone's dining room in the Greek countryside. read more

Do not patronize this establishment! We had a horrible experience here! The food was decent, although I have had better Greek food, but the service was shameful!!! The restaurant is authentic Greek, but a drunk man sitting next to us totally ruined our meal by sticking his fingers into my plate as I was eating to taste my food!!! The manager/owner chose to protect the drunkard, I can only assume it is because we were American, and made us pay for our meal in full while the drunkard didn't even have enough money to pay for his own! The restaurant chased us out so that we didn't make a scene but they allowed the drunk man to stay quietly!!! I was midway through my meal when the incident occurred and I wanted to leave immediately because I was so disgusted, but the restaurant packed my food to go and didn't even comp my meal!!! read more

this is our go-to greek restaurant. i think everyone's reviews hit it right on the nose. so aside from mentioning the kleftiko again (get it!), i'll just emphasize how cozy the place is... my husband and i like to people watch and yes, we talk to each other, too, during dinner. we particularly like to watch people on dates, especially those who are still in the shy phase (date 1 or 2?). halepi's is not the place to take a first date because we would be the couple next to you, nearly sitting in your lap, listening to your conversation. plus, who actually eats a ton on a first date? -you're going to want to eat everything at halepi's. halepi's is a great place for families and folks who love yummo food...and who don't mind loosening the belt after dinner. read more