Efes I in City of London, Westminster

Awesome food, service and ambiance!!!

The food was immaculate and very delicious. For a two person date with my partner it was also very affordable and worth every single penny. The staff has greated us very nicely and looked after us all the time always asking if we need anything else and keeping us happy. I would definitely be recommending Efes to all of my family and friends as it is a great experience.

Definitely overpriced, food arrived raw and the people working there was quite rude.

Great food and very nice service. The best EFES restaurant out there. Nice and clean, and very welcoming. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Many thanks to the chef for the tasty food and delicious treat!👌

Not a single complaint. Great food, amazing service and good atmosphere. The waiters really put in effort to make sure you get everything you need. Very quick.

Excellent address, never disappointed! Meat paradise with successful recipes! Meat lovers, go for it!

Lovely food and excellent friendly welcoming service. I work in the area once a week and almost always have dinner here. Yet to be disappointed

Best Turkish food I’ve had in a while recommend this place highly. Staff was kind was also helpful because I’m on holiday didn’t know much about the area so thanks to all the staff again will be back and will tell my friends back home.

Very good food very good service…

Excellent food, good service. The background sound is Turkish.

This is the best restaurant I have found in London. I never try food like this One of the best restaurants in London, very beautiful

Our experience at Efes Whitechapel yesterday was nothing short of appalling. We were a group of 24 who had booked well in advance, looking forward to what should have been a pleasant and memorable evening. Instead, we were subjected to hostility and shockingly unprofessional behaviour from the manager, which ruined the entire experience. The restaurant had prepared two large tables for us, which initially seemed fine. However, as we began to settle in and choose our seats according to personal preference—keeping in mind that our group consisted of different age groups who naturally wanted to sit with their close family or friends—the manager stormed over. To our utter disbelief, he raised his voice at us and demanded that we “fill in” the seats according to his liking, without any consideration for our group dynamic or comfort. When we tried to explain or even question this unreasonable request, he didn’t attempt to speak to us politely or resolve the matter diplomatically. Instead, he rudely declared, “If you don’t like it, then leave.” This was an appalling way to address a group of paying customers, particularly one that had taken the trouble to book ahead. We were left stunned by his attitude, which showed not just a lack of professionalism but a total absence of basic respect. It was incredibly frustrating because the decision of how we arranged ourselves at the tables should have been entirely ours. The tables were booked specifically for us, and it should not have mattered to the staff how we chose to sit. His behaviour demonstrated a shocking disregard for customer service, hospitality, and common courtesy. What was supposed to be a joyful gathering turned into a deeply unpleasant experience. We felt disrespected, unwelcome, and as though our custom was not valued in the slightest. Such disgraceful treatment is unacceptable, and we will certainly never be returning to Efes Whitechapel. We strongly advise others to avoid this place unless they are prepared to be treated with the same disregard.

Disgusting behaviour by the staffs. Terrible attitude towards customers. We were a large group went there to celebrate but their behaviour ruined our evening completely and we decided to leave because of such shameful behaviour. Highly NOT recommended!

Authentic Turkish venue with excellent service

I went out to eat with my parents today to celebrate, and I’ve never had such a TERRIBLE experience in my life. I was absolutely shocked by how poor the customer service was and how badly we were treated. The waiters actually had the nerve to tell us to leave and even started shouting at us. I’ve never encountered such disrespect in any restaurant before. This was beyond disappointing. Please consider changing your staff, or you’ll lose a lot of loyal customers and business. Absolutely disgusting behavior, and I won’t be coming back.

I had an extremely disappointing experience at this restaurant today. I pre-booked a table for 25 people for dinner, yet when I arrived with my 70-year-old mother, one of the waiters insisted that my guests sit in a location they didn't want. This unnecessary conflict escalated into shouting at my guests. Out of respect for my friends and to avoid further confrontation, I had no choice but to leave and find another restaurant, which was not only inconvenient but also very challenging given my mother's age and vulnerability. Such treatment is unacceptable, and I expect better service in the future.

We had a reservation of 24 people. 2 tables were booked for us. There were some children and elderly persons with us. We were taking little bit time to sit. One aged waiter was Rushing to sit down quickly. We told him to come back after 10 minutes and let us sit like our own arrangement . He said it’s Saturday and no body can tell him to go because it’s his restaurant. Seriously? How awful service it was and how rude he was ! Oh my god! Never again at this restaurant.

I had an absolutely horrible experience at this restaurant. From the moment we walked in, the service was rude and completely unprofessional. We asked to sit where we were comfortable, but the stuff insisted we sit wherever they told us. When we voiced our frustration in a gentle way the waiter had the nerve and audacity to tell us that if we didn't like it, we should leave. Things only got worse from there, they started shouting at us for no reason at all. We were really looking forward to celebrate but this whole experience ruined our evening. I've never been more disappointed. We were going to spend more than 500£, but I'm glad we came out and spent it somewhere else. The staff should be changed ASAP!!!

We had an excellent dinner… thank you so much 🙏🏼

It’s the best Turkish restaurant in London every thing is delicious, very clean and also I am from 2015 I visit it every things is the same. Thank you

Delicious Turkish food in East London. I stayed in a hotel next door and came to have dinner here almost every night during my 5 day stay in London. The staff is amazing and the atmosphere is great for a chill night out. Food is super tasty and they give you tea for free at the end.

Over priced for the portion I paid again right after to get another snack as i felt hungry still, service charge is high for the "service" that doesn't exist. I'm North American and we tip everywhere, there was no problem giving a tip, but at least we get service in return here the service didn't exist having to chase to order, napkin, bill etc and not even come check if the client needs anything. Food itself was alright, very nice bread however.

One of the best things I've had being in London so far.

Scammers, they take 10 pounds of tips without asking you, in addition to being super expensive, a wrap of nothing at all costs 16 pounds, dishes from 20 pounds. Neither the neighborhood nor the restaurant deserve these prices

They can prepare Turkish food! Food was very good and delicious. However, the price is quite expensive for this area. That was the most expensive meal on the East Side, the two of us had a cold mezze, pide and a mixed grill plate. We were around £82 including 12.5% ​​fees. I don't think it's fair for a service that is served with little motivation and zest for life.

My wife and I got two chicken doner wraps as takeaway, and I have to say I’m very disappointed. We used to buy from here before, but the quality has definitely gone downhill. The wraps were burnt, extremely salty, and the chicken was so dry it was like paper. On top of that, the portion of meat was far too small for the £10.50 price tag. Unfortunately, we won’t be buying again

Poor food quality and Poor customer service! I vitiated the restaurant my two girls to enjoy restaurant atmosphere. However, staff treated us very badly. First, one staff member refused us to sit on the table we had chosen, saying it’s for 8 people even though it’s for 3-4 people. Then he ended giving it to two other customers came right after us(Per in mind the restaurant wasn’t that full, and there were so many available tables, including tables for two persons!!!))). Second, when I asked to pay, he ignored me completely. Lastly, they offered everyone else cup of tea but left us!! Even though my bill came to £60. I see other people complaining about the staff members. Plus the food quality isn’t that good so won’t recommend the restaurant!! Small smile and kind words won’t hurt at all!! We all tired and work hard.. so we expect to be treated nicely! So poor food quality Overpriced restaurant Bad customer service (Charging high service charge)! Definitely not coming back!

Not even worth a star Really bad service,food was late and bad behaviour from the staff

A place to return, delicious food and very pleasant service

Good place. Perfect Turkish good. Love it.

After work I went with my colleagues, the service was excellent, everything was delicious 👍

Excellent food, service and value. I returned to the restaurant after 10 years and it was even better than I remembered. Turkish Pide rivals what I’ve had in Turkey. Special shout out to Erhan, who was superb, not just to us but the tables we heard him serve around us. Just a shame the owner was sat behind us playing loud videos on his phone the duration of our meal!

Been taken to lunch here twice over last few weeks, staff very kind and provide recommendations, food very quick and high quality. I would like more meat on the plate but cant fault the quality of the food. Lunch menu 12 to 2pm is good value.

I got two chicken doner wraps as takeaway, and I’m very disappointed. The wraps were burnt, extremely salty, and you could barely taste the chicken. On top of that, the portion of meat was far too small for the £10.50 price tag. Definitely not worth it—won’t be buying again

The food was quite fine, however, the service and welcoming are definitely below expectations. There are a bunch of options around the area, especially for Turkish cuisine. I would not consider coming back to this joint.

Awesome food. I had chicken soup followed by lamb shish kebab and everything was cooked to perfection. It all arrived quickly too. This is my go to place on this side of town

Really nice food, authentic, flavoursome and tasty. They have two floors, slightly misleading looking from the outside that they have such large seating area in the basement. Can get quite busy as it seems quite popular. Service seems quick and helpful, however they charge a service charge on top, which they kindly took off upon request. Ambience is nice with a fancy feel, however the portion size seems a tad bit smaller for the price you pay, which I guess is a bit commonplace for the nicer restaurant, always leave you wanting more!! Overall a nice experience, worth coming back. The location is on a very busy high street junction so parking might be next to impossible to find, better use public transport.

What an amazing evening dining at Efes. We were blown away by the friendly staff and amazing tastes. Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys authentic Turkish cuisine.

Atmosphere has improved as has the food. Was very busy but service did not suffer, something for everyone and lunch menu is very good.

This Turkish restaurant in Whitechapel is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in this area. The food is delicious and the service is very fast. It is on the main street and very easy to reach the metro.

I was disappointed with this restaurant overall. The food lacked flavor and authenticity, with the exception of the lahmacun, which was the only highlight of the meal. The rest of the dishes fell short of expectations, and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a truly delicious Turkish dining experience.

The food was quite nice, authentic, and flavorful, but the staff left much to be desired in terms of friendliness and service. On top of that, the prices were a bit on the higher side, which didn’t feel entirely justified given the overall experience. While the food might tempt me back, the service makes me hesitant to return anytime soon.

Must say the lahmacun ( Turkish pizza) was cooked to perfection. Pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and great service with authentic Turkish music in the background playing reminded me of the old days I am definitely going back to this place

We had dinner here last night, and it was an outstanding experience! The service was truly exceptional – the staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and welcoming, making us feel right at home. The food was phenomenal; we ordered the mixed kebab, which was perfectly cooked, tender, and full of flavor. The fresh salad and flavorful sauces complemented the dish beautifully. For dessert, the baklava paired with Turkish coffee or Turkish tea was an absolute must-try – a delightful way to end a fantastic evening. Efes is a gem, and we highly recommend it for an unforgettable dining experience!

Friendly service, you immediately get a small starter on the house with dipping sauces and bread. The main course came very quickly, it was incredibly tasty and the portions were large. The atmosphere is very familiar and cozy, as if you were at home with a Turkish family. Would recommend it to anyone.

Always loved to order from here and eat in on special occasions this was our go to place to eat ,last few times I have ordered on Uber I have been really let down to the point I just won’t order from them anymore and order from the furthest restaurant instead ,last night ordered from them and they forgot the drinks which bare in mind they charge £3 per can on Uber so it does add up ,we had moved into new property so ordered drinks so wouldn’t have to go outside to the shop which we ended up having to do anyway ,I called and spoke to staff member who ensured me the manager would refund me even though I was unsure how as I had ordered on Uber but just expected he would call them but he did not and Uber charged me ,staff member also told me that the staff “lie” about forgetting things so they checked the cameras to be sure and they promised a refund and I didn’t get it ,the time before when I ordered from them they had forgot the extra portion of rice and fries ,that was big order at the time so I let it go but now it seems a regular occurrence,such a shame as the food is incredible!

Excellent restaurant. And the service is wonderful. Especially. Shawarma

Delicious food after a late arrival at the hotel down the street. Shared dining of various tasty dishes😋😋😋

Food was good. However the atmosphere wasnt as per the price they are charging.

Wonderful service and delicious food

The best marinated lamb Doner kebab I've tried in London.

Five years ago, I went there and had the most amazing Adana Kebab that was above and beyond any other kebab that I have tried, before and since. But, being in town, today I went again and I'we had a most amazing Ali Nazik. The food here is just amazing.

A fabulous restaurant near Aldgate East tube in the heart of East London serving excellent Turkish cuisine, great service & ambience. Well worth a visit.

Very good quality dishes, super fast service and normal prices.

Just had a lunch there. Compare to all London Turkish restaurants, they sell very very bad, worst quality meat. Never again !

Far better Turkish restaurants around. Efes used to be good years ago. Now it is bang on average but the prices are on par with some of the better Turkish restaurants in London. Overall: avoid.

Very rude customer service. Rip off food price and 12.5 service charge without any service. How do they still exist? I think it’s because of the location and new customer footfall. No one would visit second time.

Some of the best Turkish food I’ve had outside of turkey, absolutely delightful. The staff recommended dishes and helped us pick an appropriate amount of food for our party. We got the Adana kebab and the Iskander with a Hummus appetizer for two people. Really really tasty and reasonably priced! Highly recommend!

Awful service. Over priced. Very unfriendly staff.

Customer service was very poor and waiters were very mean. They customer heads and push them more foods. They are really mean.

Ordered a Doner wrap , and I was served with a flat bread and sauces ath the beginning.. While I was eating the bread a lady waitress came to me and snatched the bread from me ! Even without asking she took away the bread and the basket which left me in awe ! And she asked if itwas okay to take the bread as it was not included with my order and they don’t serve when we order a wrap 🤣👍.. Got out of my seat and cancelled the order which they were not really happy about but hey you didn’t lose bread but a customer and I will most probably remember this for a while and this was my very first experience like this 💯

A true hidden gem! A great and authentic Turkish food here in London. The bread is AMAZING, truly I loved how soft and delicious it was with the perfect crunchy crust. I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for a good cozy food.

Meal with my partner, had starters, mains and drinks - all really nice 👌🏼

If you’re giving this place 5* you haven’t had good turkish food! The food here is so bad and so overrated over cooked and dry and no flavour. This is my second time trying this place and both times were bad. Overpriced local kebab shops taste better and cheaper.

Went here on a whim - was really impressed by the quality of the food (had ribs and iskender). Were seated in the downstairs basement area which was comfortable. Decent, unobtrusive service.

Very tasty, service top, ambience discreetly friendly and modern. Nothing to complain about.

I was very underwhelmed by the food. The rice was luke warm, and the rest of the meal lacked flavour. The falafel was ok. The service was good and the atmosphere was good.

The food was good and the staff was alright. Very overpriced but Much better than the other branch in Stepney.

A nice Turkish place but can be very busy and food takes long to serve. Platters are quite pricy but food tastes good and worth the price.

This Turkish dish suits our taste

The food is very good. The service was excellent 👍🏻 we spontaneously stopped by at night. Here we grill over charcoal.

Nice atmosphere. Food is okay nothing to brag about for the price it is at.

We dined in for 4 people and ordered doner, lahmacun, pide and wraps. The waiter wasn't aware what's included in the wraps and struggled to take orders. Everything has come separately to the table and doner wrap was cold. I didn't want spicy but I had a spiced doner and it is expensive for what you get as doner wrap. Also, the Doner plate was too fatty. They serve lahmacun in 5 seconds which means they only heat up lahmacun, not doing fresh. The bread was saggy and thick not a proper lahmacun. Pide was the only recommendation that I can do, although the meat was mixed with too much fat, can try cheese pide next time if I ever go. I don't recommend going there if you dont have any other options. Places in Dalston is much better.

I happened to pass the restaurant, got a table and have to say that the food was really tasty. The price-performance ratio was a bit more expensive than in Berlin, but that's the case everywhere in London. I can only recommend the kebab plate and chicken wings!

Be aware massive charge if you eat in! I got a wrap and a single lahmacun which supposed to be 15,5 according to their price list at display and their menu inside but charged 25£. Apparently they add 10£ if you eat in.

Turkish pizza for £5 is a great deal

This is a really interesting restaurant. It has been around for fifty years and you can see why. The food is simple but lovely. The staff are well trained and attentive, but not intrusive. The atmosphere was busy with people enjoying being out to eat.

Pretty good, large portions, and true to Turkish cuisine from what I have been exposed to.

Always crowded and noisy. Serving food takes a long time. Food is okay.

Iskender, it can't be like this. Also, the sympathy of the people working in the kitchen blew me away.

The prices are very high, the taste is very bad, I told Adana it was terrible, there is nothing like hygiene. Something had dripped on the table. The best thing in the place was bottled Coke. I don't recommend it. Don't go and regret it.

Used to come here everyday before I moved out the area. Returning after three years I’ve had to change my five star review to a 2 star. Maybe they’ve changed owner? I used to get a beautiful falafel wrap in gorgeous fresh bread, delicious hummus and fresh salad, all for £5. Not only have they raised their prices by a lot but the quality of the food has diminished. For example, the fresh bread has been replaced by supermarket tortillas. Really disappointing and hope they can get back to the shining Whitechapel institution they once were.

Excellent place to eat and super service..great food !!!thank you very much

One of the best in London, really enjoyed it specially its halal clean well made delicious food

Take out mixed kebab £11. Meat extremely well spiced but not a lot of it at all in my kebab which was extremely disappointing. I was considering inviting my friend to have a sit down meal in this place but the value for money of my take out has put me off. It's such a shame but overall the kebab was a let down

I had a previous good experience at another branch but this time in Whitechapel, it was the complete opposite. The waiter was visibly annoyed throughout simply because we asked for a couple of minutes to get our order ready. When we were ready, he avoided coming over for some time. We had barely finished eating before he was grabbing our plates. Lacked basic courtesy and politeness, let alone positive service. And no, it wasn't busy at all. Lots of empty tables so there was really no need to rush.

Food is so tasty. I tried Donar lamb, it's fantastic.

The best restaurant in Whitechapel, highly recommended

The Kunefe here is really good!

As a Turkish, i confirm that it is indeed a good Turkish food! Don’t hesitate to come in and have a wonderful food in a very chilling and welcoming environment. Many thanks for the warm welcome and great food!

Felt robbed in broad daylight at the extortionate prices and sky high service charge to rub it in even more. The food is bang average, the only actually nice thing was the bread, oh and speaking of bread it was £2.50 for BREAD!!?? It’s free in any respectable Turkish place like the ones in Haringey. Absolute joke of a restaurant, £60 down the drain for a disappointing meal for two, just got to Corbacisi in Haringey for real service and proper Turkish food.

Lovely meal, meat was nicely cooked, decent portion but not cheap. Would be nice if they cleared the table and I might have dessert. Great overall

I just bought ready-made falafel from them !!For 6 pound sold at Lidl for 1.40 pound Is there a respectable restaurant that serves customers ready-made frozen food that is not specialized Like something that is not called falafel from lidl?!!! Frozen fries too !! 3.50!! That’s cost me 10 pound for original price 2 pound!!! Why did I come to a restaurant then He doesn't know how to cook falafel In its original way ?!! Even the hummus was without olive oil and dry🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 A restaurant you said? 😂😂 run away

I had a food poisoning from this restaurant (Efes) last Thursday 22nd August 2024. The salad was not fresh at all, the dipping sauce was very bad and runny. Roasted veg was rotten. At the end I have been enforced to pay extra charges for the service. It is not recommended at all

Good food and nice staff, open very late

Located at the top end of bricklane . Parking can be an issue .EFES has 2 floors . The lower floor is for larger groups. Bright vibrant atmosphere. Food was succulent and juicy.

My husband and I had dinner here on a visit to London and we felt so sick that night after eating here. Food tasted bland and unseasoned. Worst Turkish food I’ve ever had. Staff were also rude and unwelcoming. Will not be recommending this place.

A place that really deserves a stop both for lunch and dinner. Good quality of food, large portions, excellent bread and a very kind, polite and friendly staff. One of the best locations in terms of quality and price.

A busy place but food and service is good. We were served by Aniq - amazing guy with brilliant attitude.

The Food tasting was okay. The service was not good the staff was keeping looking at us ,stand on front us .it was uncomfortable at all, The price was very expensive compared with the food we got, and with other Turkish restaurants . I will never go back again .I don't recommend