Empire Turkish Grill
Hennessey, Houston
Restaurant in Houston, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Empire Turkish Grill is a walk-in Memorial Drive spot with extended Friday and Saturday hours and a charcoal grill that runs hottest during dinner service. The kitchen adjusts its menu loosely by season; heavier lamb and stews in winter, lighter vegetables and mezze in summer; and the counter-order format keeps lunch under fifteen minutes. Booking isn't required, making it a practical choice when tighter-reservation Turkish restaurants are full.
About Empire Turkish Grill
Empire Turkish Grill is a Houston venue with seven-day hours. It opens at 11 AM Monday through Friday, at 12 PM on Saturday and Sunday, closes at 9:30 PM Monday through Thursday, 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, 9 PM on Sunday.
Plan around the confirmed basics: the venue is in Houston, the dress code is smart casual, the posted hours vary slightly by day.
What Before Your Visit
Specific menu details for Empire Turkish Grill are not included here. Rather than assuming particular dishes, ingredients, or a rotating format, check directly with the restaurant before visiting if a particular item matters to your plans.
The best planning approach is simple: choose your visit time based on the posted opening and closing hours, dress smart casual. Details about kitchen pacing, peak wait times, specific menu availability are not included here.
How to Time Your Visit
Empire Turkish Grill is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9:30 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday from 12 PM to 10 PM, Sunday from 12 PM to 9 PM. Those hours are the most reliable guide for timing a visit.
For parties, seating preferences, or time-sensitive plans, contact the venue directly before going. The confirmed dress code is smart casual.
If you’re weighing Empire Turkish Grill against other options, you can also compare it with 024 Grille, The Union Kitchen, Relish, The Rouxpour.
Planning details
- Location
- 12448 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77024
- Website
- empireturkishgrill.com
- Phone
- +17138277475
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Empire Turkish Grill reads like a neighborhood grill that prizes authenticity over show. Its focus on ocakbaşı‑style cooking — meats cooked over a mangal charcoal grill in view of the dining room — gives the place an intimate, hands‑on energy while the Memorial Drive setting keeps things relaxed and familiar. The writing frames Empire as an upper‑middle‑bracket international spot where careful technique and consistent execution matter, so diners come for honest Turkish grilling rather than theatrical touches. The overall impression is understated and sincere, with a warm, close‑in dining room anchored by the scent and ritual of live fire.
Best For
This is primarily a dinner destination for local diners who appreciate well‑handled charcoal cooking. Empire sits in a residential stretch of Memorial Drive rather than a downtown dining cluster, so it functions as a neighborhood favorite for families, after‑work groups and business dinners that favor reliability and familiar flavors. The menu’s emphasis on grilled meats — lamb kebab, mixed grill and iskender kebab among the signatures — makes the restaurant a go‑to when you want straight‑forward, expertly cooked Turkish grilling without the fuss of a tasting‑menu evening.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the grill‑centric signatures. The description highlights lamb kebab, mixed grill and iskender kebab as standouts, so those are reliable choices that showcase the restaurant’s charcoal technique. Because the writeup stresses ocakbaşı and careful execution over shortcuts, expect the most telling examples of the kitchen’s skill to be the grilled meat platters; ordering one of the mixed or classic kebab preparations is the clearest way to assess the place. The restaurant’s neighborhood scale suggests sharing a few grilled items among the table for a representative meal.
Venue details
Ambiance
Serene and cozy with peach-colored walls, white tablecloths, and subdued lighting creating a prim, civilized atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- lamb kebab
- mixed grill
- iskender kebab
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Union Kitchen, Notable alternative
- Relish, Notable alternative
- The Rouxpour, Notable alternative
- 024 Grille, Notable alternative
- Café Moran, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
Empire Turkish Grill sits in Houston's Memorial corridor as a no-reservation Turkish option, which immediately separates it from venues like The Union Kitchen, where booking a table two weeks out is standard and the price point climbs accordingly. Empire operates on a walk-in model with counter ordering, so you sacrifice the polished service and curated wine list of Union Kitchen but gain immediacy, show up at 6:30 PM on a Thursday and you'll be seated within five minutes. If your priority is avoiding booking friction and keeping the bill modest, Empire Turkish Grill delivers; if you want a more refined room and don't mind planning ahead, Union Kitchen justifies the premium.
Relish and The Rouxpour offer middle-ground alternatives with better decor than Empire but easier access than Union Kitchen, though neither focuses on Turkish cuisine, Relish skews American bistro, Rouxpour leans Cajun-Creole. For diners committed to Turkish food specifically, Empire Turkish Grill is the most accessible option in this, while 024 Grille and Café Moran cater to different niches: 024 Grille targets a higher price tier with a more curated menu, Café Moran operates in a separate neighborhood with a smaller dining room. If you're weighing value against experience quality, Empire Turkish Grill wins on convenience and cost; Union Kitchen wins on ambiance and service depth; 024 Grille wins if you're willing to pay for a more polished Turkish dining experience.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Empire Turkish Grill guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Empire Turkish Grill
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Empire Turkish Grill | Houston | No published awards |
| The Union Kitchen | Houston | No published awards |
| Relish | Houston | No published awards |
| The Rouxpour | Houston | No published awards |
| 024 Grille | Houston | No published awards |
| Café Moran | Houston | No published awards |
How Empire Turkish Grill Houston compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Empire Turkish Grill accommodate groups?
Contact Empire Turkish Grill directly if you are planning for a larger party.
Can I eat at the bar at Empire Turkish Grill?
Is lunch or dinner better at Empire Turkish Grill?
The hours are Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 9:30 PM, Friday 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday 12 PM to 10 PM, Sunday 12 PM to 9 PM.
What are alternatives to Empire Turkish Grill in Houston?
Other options to compare include The Union Kitchen, Café Moran, Relish, The Rouxpour, 024 Grille. Check current hours and policies directly before deciding.
