Efes Restaurant Whitechapel

Price

££

Cuisine

Ocakbaşı & Grill

Area

Whitechapel

Efes Restaurant Whitechapel is a Turkish restaurant and charcoal grill at 1 Whitechapel Road, right by Aldgate East station. It takes its name from Ephesus, the ancient city near Selçuk in İzmir province, and its own website dates the business back to 1974.

The menu is classic Turkish restaurant cooking. Start with cold and hot meze, then move on to a long list of grilled kebabs, including lamb şiş and döner, yoğurtlu kebabs, pide from the oven, wraps, fish and salads, with soups and Turkish desserts too. Bread and salad often come to the table alongside your order.

It suits groups and families, and with late opening every night it’s also a reliable choice for a late dinner.

What to order at Efes Restaurant Whitechapel

The grill is the centre of the menu, and the meze platter is a good way to start:

• Soğuk meze tabağı – a cold meze platter, enough to share between two or three
• Kuzu şiş – lamb cubes grilled over charcoal
• Kuzu döner – spit-roasted lamb döner
• Yoğurtlu kebap – grilled meat on bread with garlic yoghurt and tomato sauce
• Pide – Turkish oven-baked flatbread with toppings
• Dürüm – kebab wrapped in thin flatbread

Atmosphere and good to know

The dining room is modern and relaxed, with table service, high chairs for children and step-free access listed. Reservations are taken, which is worth doing for larger groups, and takeaway and delivery are available too.

Halal status isn’t stated by the restaurant, so ask if it matters to you. There are vegetarian options, and if you’re avoiding gluten, mention it when you order, as many dishes are served on bread. Opening until 02:00 makes it one of the later sit-down options in Whitechapel.

Efes Restaurant Whitechapel opening hours

Monday to Sunday: 10:00–02:00. Hours can change on bank holidays, so check with the restaurant before you travel.

How to get to Efes Restaurant Whitechapel

Aldgate East station (District and Hammersmith & City lines) is a minute or two away on foot, and Aldgate (Circle and Metropolitan lines) is around 5 minutes. Whitechapel station, for the Elizabeth line and Overground, is about 10 minutes’ walk, and Liverpool Street is roughly 12 minutes. Buses 25, 205 and 254 stop on Whitechapel High Street close by.

For live routes and disruptions, use the TfL Journey Planner.

Menu, ordering and contact

Official website · Call 020 7377 9255

More Turkish food nearby

Nearby, try Rose’s Kitchen, Fora City and HAZ Premier Place, or browse all Turkish restaurants in Whitechapel. New to Turkish food? Start with our guide to popular Turkish dishes or see the best Turkish restaurants in London.

Features

• Late-night opening

Location