Empire Turkish Grill has great lunch specials! They offer soup or salad and an entree for $15. It…read moreis a good size meal and very flavorful and filling. Service is very helpful, quick and kind. Inside was very clean and spacious. This is a great spot for Turkish food in memorial area.

We have been coming to this Turkish restaurant many times because we really love the food and have…read morealways enjoyed dining here. Unfortunately, today we had a terrible experience. Our server, Erdem, was extremely rude and unprofessional. He brought us old, stale bread, and when we politely asked for fresh bread, he brought us the same old bread again! Instead of apologizing or trying to fix the issue, he laughed and said, "You also work in a restaurant, so you know these things happen." His attitude was completely unacceptable, and he didn't seem to care about our experience at all. I also work in the restaurant industry, so I know exactly what good customer service looks like. Things can go wrong, but the way you treat your customers makes all the difference. We are regular customers who have supported this restaurant many times, and we certainly did not expect to be treated this way. Very disappointing service! Management should pay attention to how their staff treats loyal customers.

Met friends at Pasha today and it had been about 15 years since I last went. Was pleased that…read morenothing had changed--consistently great tasting food, friendly service and a very comfortable setting where it's easy to talk. Had the lunch combo which is a good deal as the portions are generous which make me happy :-) I will not be letting another 16 years pass before visiting Pasha again! Looking forward to having dinner there very soon.

Our waiter and they were very welcoming and kind! As soon as you enter you feel comfortable and at…read morehome almost. The first we ordered was the Humus which was served with oil and pita. Both were great complements to the soft and crispy pita. Then we shared the Mixed Grill which was unfortunately disappointing if I'm being honest. Seasoning was very light and the rice was plain and tasted like Uncle Ben's. The onions were fresh and the cabbage was a nice touch. Regarding the meats themselves the beef and chicken kebabs were delicious and cooked perfectly but the chopped chicken and beef skewers had an unusual after taste and texture to them as if they were frozen before cooking. Overall we had a great time but not sure if we can say that we can come back with the sheer number of other restaurants in the area.

Sadly they are closing in 48 hours but I had to leave my last post for the most delicious Turkish…read morecuisine that I have been enjoying since 2005. The bread, pide, lamacun are unmatched. Thank you Istanbul grill for all the wonderful memories!! Wishing them the best and hoping they re-open in another location!!! PS: Rice village landlords--you lost a real one. Only if you cared about the true Houston gems rather than being money hungry. Good going.

Rice is expanding its facilities forcing the closure of this restaurant and other businesses. So I…read morewill just post some photos of the excellent cuisine here.

Was in town visiting family and this place was recommended by some local friends, so we decided to…read moretry it out.... just something different for a change, especially since we'd never tried authentic Turkish food before. Upon entering, my first impressions were that that place looked quite nice. A bit dated, but clean, cozy, warm, and casual. We showed up at about 6pm and the place was very quite, but in short time, the place became packed, and fit good reason.... the food was prepared and presented wonderfully, was absolutely delicious, and the service was incredibly friendly, polite, helpful, and attentive... despite it being very busy. Being rather unfamiliar with Turkish food, we had a very nice and helpful chat with our server who made some great recommendations. We ended up ordering Mixed Grill Family Plate for 2, which came with a good variety of skewered meats like Beef Shish, Chicken Shish, Chicken Adana Kebab, Adana Kebab, Kofte Kebab, Doner, all served with house salad, Bulgur Rice, White Rice, Grilled Pepper and Tomato. In addition, we ordered the Lamb Chops, a Cucumber Salad, the Lahmacun.... best described as a Turkish pizza, Red Lentil Soup, and to top it all off, the Kunefe dessert. The word WOW! pretty much sums up the quality, flavors, and presentation of the dishes. Nothing was too salty at all... like I've often found with many similar such dishes found elsewhere..... just great flavors all around, witty tender, juicy, and perfectly marinated meats, and served, hot, fresh, and very well presented. As for that Kunefe dessert... a traditional Turkish dessert made with angel hair pastry, sugar, cheese, and pistachios.... Yummeee! ....now that was something different indeed. I'm not typically a sweet tooth kind of person, but I just wanted to taste just a bit of it. So unique and had very nice textures, unique flavors, and big time sweetness to it...ok, I'll admit it was VERY sweet, and I'll likely not order it again... not because it wasn't good...it was very good! ...just too sweet for me. But if you're into sweet desserts, I'm sure you'll love this dessert. Now that we have a better idea of what Turkish food tastes like, and my family was thoroughly impressed by the food quality and service, we're definitely coming back here again, for sure.

Extremely hospitable, so far I have yet to order something I didn't like. It's kind of out of the…read moreway and far but totally worth it. But hands down my favorite dish of all time is Beyti. Think of it like a Turkish equivalent of an enchilada. If I can make it during lunch GREAT. But the dinner prices are pretty normal for Turkish restaurants, but I will usually order for the table so we can all try a little. I know the location isn't great but it's absolutely worth the inconvenience of the drive.

Finally, find another Turkish food restaurant close to my place. We ordered our food through the…read moredelivery service, which took forever (doordash). Thank God they packed really well, so the food was still warm. Every single item was full of taste and freshness. It is well served in size and packed creatively. We all loved it. The price is a little pricy, but again, the quality is not cheap. We would love to try again, but it's better to dine in and enjoy food served directly to your table from the kitchen. We highly recommend this place but try to dine in if you can.

Not my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. We came for lunch and it did not impress. We ordered from…read moretheir lunch menu, and had the rice pudding for dessert, which was ok. Service is hit or miss. I'm sure this place is a favorite for many, but it's not for us.

Unfortunately I have not been down here in years, but I make it a point to stop in whenever I am…read moreand today I was lucky enough to not only see the owner in person but also to have a fabulous gyro sandwich which is much better than I remember it to be. My girlfriend had the pomegranate eggplant stew she swears by it. Clearly the fresh made naan is a "must have" with EVERYTHING!!!

Aladdin has been around for as long as I can remember. My dad used to drive by it when I was a kid,…read moreand I always wondered about it. Now as an adult, I have a free will and love coming here for mediterranean food whenever I am in the area. Many options, and the food comes out fresh, made to order. I just took my boyfriend here and he is shocked that he didn't try this place sooner. I ordered the lamb gyro plate while he got the lamb kabob. Both taste great! The lamb kabob was very juicy. Our sides consisted of caramelized onion hummus, creamy pasta, cucumber salad, roasted cauliflower, and tabouli. All were very good, especially the hummus. Their pita bread is so soft, probably the best pita bread in Houston! Really made the hummus even better.

What a wonderful surprise to find a Bosnian restaurant close by. Never tried Bosnian before. It…read morewas highly recommended by a friend and they did not disappoint. There were slow for the evening service. We order Meza for starters... mixed appetizers with feta cheese, smoked beef, egg, roasted peppers and eggplant among others. It was delicious. It also came with some kinda bread pancakes. I ordered the lamb shank that our friend recommended. It came with rice, carrots with tomatoey sauce. Lamb shank was super tender like fall off the bone tender and the sauce completes the picture. My wife loved the Greek salad. There are other items in the menu that we look forward to try. We arrived late and they were super accommodating and friendly. We stayed past closing and they didn't shoo us out. They have been around for 6 years but it's kinda hidden. Restaurant has some marble table and benches. Gave off a comfy neighborhood vibe. We will back to try out the other items on their menu or even just for the lamb shank.

Super good spot! Found it on Yelp when looking for Mediterranean food options in the area and I…read morecouldn't be happier with that choice! This is a Bosnian spot so I would say more Balkan than Mediterranean but wow it hit a spot - phenomenal food! They also have some great choices when it comes to European wines. The vibe is great with plenty of seating. They staff is very attentive and fun to chat with. Definitely will be back!

Came here to celebrate a good friend's birthday and wasn't disappointed by their service nor food…read more Service was top-notched. We were seated promptly despite not having the full party. We appreciated that kind gesture. Every food item on the menu looked delicious. I decided on the Lamb Rack. Loved the texture of the lamb and loved the basmati rice. Lamb was cooked perfectly, and the rice was very fragrant. We were offered a complimentary Persian Ice Cream Sandwich which had an unique flavor. It wouldn't be a flavor for everyone, but to me, it was a perfect ending to a great entree as it was light and mildly sweet. Note that not all food options are halal. Their website is updated with the information and you could also ask the server for clarification. Absolutely adore the interior. The restaurant could get loud but still bearable. Complimentary valet parking is available. Self-parking is also available. Highly recommend to make reservation as the restaurant does get crowded during peak hours.

It's ok to have a February birthday in September. Why not? It's still 2026, and when your favorite…read morepeople are around you, each day will find an excuse to celebrate. Since this place was a surprise venue for me, as soon as I saw the name "Rumi," I knew nothing could go wrong with it. I collected so many of Rumi's books, and having them around me makes me feel very peaceful. My family in Houston waited six months to celebrate my birthday due to my health issues, and I feel so blessed to have them around me. This place is always crowded, so please make a reservation even on weekdays. We went on weekdays, and even then we got a reservation for 8:45 pm. But honestly, every effort was worth it. We got there on time. Velet parking is available, but if you want to avoid more waiting, pass the restaurant, and you will see a big parking lot. We walked in and loved the interior, but it was very crowded with happy faces. We were seated in 5 minutes and started enjoying the ambiance and decor. It's a beautiful place to celebrate precious moments with your family and friends. Everyone loved our server, Zack, and his presence and approach. He talks so kindly with each of us. His recommendations were so good that we found every kind of dish for everyone, including vegetarian options. We started with sides, Thanks to Zack.

As a native Texan, it pains me to say this, but a person can only eat so much Tex-Mex and Barbecue…read more There, I said it. Sometimes a good old boy wants to taste something special. Something different. Something out of the ordinary. Friends, let me tell you about Hamsa. House made Baba ghanoush? Addictive. Lamb Hummus? One of the best appetizers I've ever tasted. I could eat that lamb hummus every single day. Shaved tomatoes and feta? Scrumptious. We also shared the ribeye skewer and the shrimp skewer. As a couple, this allowed us both to enjoy a middle eastern version of "Surf and Turf." Both were fantastic. I've written a few reviews for Yelp. I only write a review if my experience was 5-star worthy. If I have an average meal, I'm not going to take the time to write about it. Hamsa was definitely one of the special ones. Give them a try. You won't be sorry.

Absolutely delicious Mediterranean food!…read more This restaurant is located in the Hartt of Rice Village, an event that parking can look tricking, they have several options, complimentary valet for two hours, paid parking, or you can park in the side of the street. We wanted to try restaurant week menu, so my friends and I made a reservation and came to Hamsa. I will tell you that is highly recommended to have a reservation because even though they have plenty of room, these restaurant is very popular, and they also have a beautiful bar. The food is outstanding with several traditional Mediterranean dishes but with their own and unique twist. You definitely must try the hummus with lamb and the Labneh with couscous, definitely might talk to favorite appetizers. Their non-bread is very fluffy and soft. I will say that the service is also wonderful, we were very well taken care of and their drinks are very tasty and strong! My only complaint is that it was very hot. We were seated in a booth by the wall and we were sweating, Looking forward to come back when it's not hot inside.

Sunday family dinners are usually Middle Eastern kabobs. Last visit was with seven family members…read more Nice to get a plate filled with kabobs, chicken, lamb or salmon, served with basmati rice and grilled vegetables. We usually substitute the rice for Persian salad. Diced cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions with a Persian dressing. My favorite. For something different, try the fesenjan. Chicken served with a pomegranate, walnut and saffron stew served with basmati rice. So tangy and sweet. Love this one! Add some hummus, whipped feta or warm eggplant dip while you wait for dinner. Parking is easy. Make a reservation for a weekend dinner or lunch.

My girlfriend and I were looking for something a bit different in the area and decided to have our…read morefirst try on Persian food at Kasra. I must say I have to echo her review, as we were blown away by the flavors. The restaurant was packed, and the decor was fancy but comfortable. One look at the interior and clientele already convinced me this place would be authentic. We opted to try 2 different combos, the Kasra and seafood combo, so we could share and try a bit of everything. It's hard to pick a favorite, all the proteins were flavorful and tender. The rice was a whole talking point just by itself. I often get bored with plain old white rice, so I'm glad Kasra seasons their rice well. The portions were very generous as well, they left me full after cleaning up that whole plate. This was an excellent introduction to Persian cuisine for me, we got lucky that we chose a place that would leave a great first impression!