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    Sems Turkish Cafe

    5.0 (4 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    The beef shawarma plate was delicious and a great serving portion, would highly recommend!

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    3 years ago

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    Troy ATX - Turkish Iskender

    Troy ATX

    4.5(629 reviews)
    15.2 mi
    $$

    Troy ATX on Mesa Drive in Austin, TX is a neighborhood restaurant that quietly delivers an…read moreoutstanding dining experience. The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Troy ATX provides food and outstanding service...feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for dining. The menu offers a great balance of familiar Mediterranean favorites and traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with care and bold flavors. Portions are generous, ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes homemade. In fact, the son of the owner was managing the restaurant which he does not do often. He had nothing but rave things to say about his family and the restaurant. I really love that! I stopped to pick up some hummus. It was packaged with pita bread and nicely packed for travel. The hummus felt thick and hearty...not normally how it comes at the grocery store. If you're craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, Troy ATX is absolutely worth a visit.

    Stumbled across this hidden gem in North Austin and absolutely love it. I've always said Austin…read moredoesn't have enough "Mom and Pop ethnic places," so finding Troy was a dream come true. The staff was so warm and welcoming the entire time. From giving recommendations, to offering Turkish tea, it was a great experience. The food was solid as well! Definitely recommend the lamb in whatever you get! I had a few coworkers get the wraps, I will say, I do feel like they were a little light on the meat in those, but everything else that was ordered was solid. We will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Troy ATX - Interior ambiance and design

    Interior ambiance and design

    Troy ATX
    Troy ATX - Turkish Coffee

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    Turkish Coffee

    MezzeMe - ChickMe Out

    MezzeMe

    4.4(622 reviews)
    11.2 mi
    $$

    I come here exclusively for the pistachio baklava cheesecake. The parking situation is a bit of a…read moreheadache but totally worth it. I've only ever ordered takeout at the counter so I can't speak to the dine-in experience, but the service is smooth and efficient. Dessert is ready in about 5 minutes and food orders during busy dinner hours have taken around 20 minutes, which honestly wasn't bad at all given how packed they get. Everything is always packaged nicely and securely, and the food is consistently delicious. They also carry other sweets worth trying like honey cakes and pistachio baklava. On the savory side, some dishes I've really enjoyed are the Mezze Platter, Beef and Lamb Doner, and Ribeye Steak Shish Kebab. It's not super loud but the front can get a bit overstimulating when it's busy, so if you're not a fan of crowds I'd recommend coming outside of peak hours. This most recent time, I didn't realize until I was home that they forgot to pack one of the baklava cheesecakes I'd ordered. They were able to refund me over the phone when I couldn't come back to pick it up. Highly recommend!

    Recently visited MezzMe and was genuinely impressed -- definitely a place I'd come back to…read more We started with the Iskender kebab -- presentation was . The meat was juicy and tender, topped with a rich tomato sauce, and the yogurt added a perfect balance. The bread soaks up all the juices, making every bite incredibly flavorful. You can tell this isn't just "Turkish food" -- it's made with real attention to detail. For the main course, we had a mixed grill: doner, kebab, and chicken. Everything was cooked just right -- nothing dry, with a nice charcoal flavor. The doner stood out in particular -- very juicy with great texture. The rice was fluffy, sides were fresh, and the sauces complemented everything well. We also tried the pide (a Turkish-style flatbread/boat pizza). The dough was soft inside with a crispy crust, and the topping was rich and well-balanced. Overall: -- generous portions -- fair prices for the quality -- fast service -- casual but cozy atmosphere If you like Turkish food or just want a solid, satisfying meat-based meal -- this spot is definitely worth checking out.

    Photos
    MezzeMe - Interior view

    Interior view

    MezzeMe - Governor's (Mix Kebap) Plate

    Governor's (Mix Kebap) Plate

    MezzeMe - In front of the restaurant

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    In front of the restaurant

    USTA KABABGY - Hummus and yogurt salad with fresh Zaatar Flatbread

    USTA KABABGY

    4.6(257 reviews)
    14.4 mi
    $$

    Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

    Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed"…read moreexperience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier.

    Photos
    USTA KABABGY
    USTA KABABGY - Lahmajun

    Lahmajun

    USTA KABABGY - Spacious upgrade from their previous location

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    Spacious upgrade from their previous location

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Half order of falafel with hummus

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.2(932 reviews)
    22.0 mi
    $$

    Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

    Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

    Photos
    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine
    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Mixed grill

    Mixed grill

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Mint lemonade

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    Mint lemonade

    Caspian Grill - Kabob Beef Koobideh and Rice

    Caspian Grill

    4.5(540 reviews)
    19.1 mi
    $$

    The was best Persian cuisine in Austin! Very authentic!…read more I'm Persian (my dad's side) and grew up eating traditional meals. Oh, the nostalgia... so fulfilling to my soul, especially since my dad is no longer earth-side.

    I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

    Photos
    Caspian Grill
    Caspian Grill
    Caspian Grill - The biggest teapot I have ever seen

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    The biggest teapot I have ever seen

    Aba - Crispy Short Rib Hummus*

    Aba

    4.4(1.9k reviews)
    7.0 miSoCo (S. Congress Ave.), 78704 (South Austin)
    $$$

    This is one of the few places in town where I know I'm guaranteed to have an amazing experience…read more There are no misses on the menu, everything is pretty much assured to be absolutely delicious. There's really nothing to complain about, the patio and interior are stunning and transport you out of south congress. Service has always been prompt and good, they always refill the pita when you're running low. My personal favorites are the steak frites and the eggplant dip, seriously SO good. Everytime I come here I look forward to the next time I can go again

    We recently visited Aba on a Sunday evening for dinner, and it turned out to be a wonderful…read moreexperience overall. I absolutely love the vibe of this place--it's definitely a high-end Mediterranean restaurant, perfect for special occasions. What really stood out was how beautifully everyone was dressed; it added to the upscale, elegant atmosphere of the entire space. The restaurant offers both indoor seating and a beautiful outdoor seating area, which really elevates the overall experience. The outdoor space, in particular, adds to the charm and makes it a great spot for a relaxed yet upscale evening. Since reservations weren't available, we decided to arrive early, expecting a long wait. Luckily, being a Sunday evening, it wasn't too crowded, and we were seated within about 20 minutes. For drinks, I ordered a Tender Robot Hazy IPA, while my husband went with the Verdant Mai Tai. I was a bit disappointed to learn they only serve canned beer and don't offer draft options, as I personally prefer draft beer and am not a big fan of cocktails, which tend to be too sweet for my taste. For the main course, I had the Heirloom Chicken Thighs, and my husband ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Both dishes were cooked to perfection--flavorful, well-seasoned, and the meat was incredibly tender. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit small considering the price point. We ended the meal with the Sticky Date Cake, and it was hands down the best I've ever had--rich, perfectly balanced, and absolutely delicious. Overall, we had a great experience. Between the beautiful ambiance, flavorful food, and exceptional service, it's a place I'd definitely return to. I'm giving it 4 stars mainly because of the lack of draft beer and the smaller portion sizes for the price, but it's still a fantastic spot worth visiting.

    Photos
    Aba - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Aba - Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites

    Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites

    Aba - Favorite Dips

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    Favorite Dips

    Mezze Cafe

    Mezze Cafe

    4.5(279 reviews)
    6.5 mi78704 (South Austin), Bouldin Creek
    $$

    The food, everything, was very good. I had the Shish Tawook (chicken) with tabbouleh and hummus…read more The tabbouleh was fantastic! I don't know if it was authentic or not, but it was so good! The staff member that I dealt with was personable, pleasant, etc. Only one negative--I wish I could give the place a 4.5, but I don't think a 4 is fair--After I indicated that I was finished eating and ready for the bill (maybe I didn't communicate it so clearly?), it seemed to take quite a while before they came with the check. Otherwise, great food! (I did not try the hookah at all.) Oh, I forgot to mention: I was served a bottle of spring water rather than a bottle of "purified" water. That was fairly impressive.

    All day Friday I was snacking. Mezze Cafe was one of my snack stops. I was told by a friend that…read morethey have the most delicious homemade hummus. So I ordered their hummus. My friend was spot on. You could tell that the hummus was homemade as it was thick and substantial to eat. It also had some extra virgin oil and some tasty spices. To be honest, I was not crazy about the accompanying pita bread. While it was plentiful, the pita bread was a bit hard. It did not appear homemade, as I expected. Moe, my server, was very attentive and brought my hummus rather quickly. While my hummus was $8, there were built automatic tips up 30%. You could opt to do no tip or a custom tip. Never seen a tip automatically built to that large percent. Their parking lot was a bit small, but was free for customers. I did enjoy my hummus and would recommend it. However, I would ask for crackers to accompany the hummus.

    Photos
    Mezze Cafe - Outside

    Outside

    Mezze Cafe
    Mezze Cafe - Indoor seating

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    Indoor seating

    Sems Turkish Cafe - foodtrucks - Updated May 2026

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