Turkish Kebab House
Permanently closedReviews of Turkish Kebab House
from GoogleI came here for the first time today with no idea what to expect, and honestly, if heaven were a place on Earth, I think this might be it. I’ve always loved Turkish kebabs, but this place absolutely takes the cake, especially by Calgary standards. I ordered the Turkish kebab, and it was phenomenal: juicy, perfectly seasoned, and full of authentic flavour. Even the salad was incredibly fresh. I usually don’t care much for fries on a platter, but these were so crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside that I actually couldn’t stop eating them. And then came the service which somehow managed to be even better than the food. From the moment we walked in, it was fast, courteous and felt incredibly homey. The staff was extremely hospitable. After we placed our orders, we were greeted with complimentary bread and hummus which was sooo tasty and such a nice surprise. After our meal, we were feeling a bit tired so we we ordered the authentic Turkish coffee, which I’ve been searching for in Calgary for what feels like forever. They even brought us complimentary baklava, which was such a sweet finishing touch. Everything felt so warm, genuine, and welcoming. You can tell they truly care about the experience they’re giving their guests. Honestly, this place is better than Disneyland. If you love kebabs or you’re looking for delicious, authentic Turkish flavours in Calgary, put this place on your list. I already know I’ll be coming back at least once a week. Officially my new favourite spot in Calgary!!!!
SHOUT OUT TO Abdullah fr 🩷 My first time eating Turkish food and the experience was supa awesome. The kebabs were moist and flavourful. The best dish in my opinion tho is the beyti kebab 🍂 They give you complimentary bread hot n fresh with dip… and tea at the end….so good… will definitely visit again 🙏😌
Some restaurants are busy because they are trendy. Others become legendary because the food speaks for itself. Turkish Kebab House belongs in the second category. I ordered the lamb Pocket Sandwich and was instantly transported back to Switzerland where kebabs are everywhere and standards are extremely high. The lamb was succulent, juicy and beautifully seasoned. The meat melted in my mouth and paired perfectly with their freshly baked bread. The sandwich was overflowing with flavour and sauce, exactly how it should be. The atmosphere is relaxed and authentic. This isn’t a flashy downtown restaurant trying to impress you with decor. It wins you over with genuine hospitality and outstanding food. The staff were warm, attentive and made sure everything was perfect. What impressed me the most was the cleanliness. The restaurant is immaculate and the washrooms are exceptionally clean, something I always notice. Parking is abundant and the location on 17th Avenue SE is easy to access. Another fantastic surprise is their weekend breakfast buffet, available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. For only $29.99, you get an all-you-can-eat buffet and even free Turkish tea. Kids pay only $14.99, which is an incredible value considering the quality of the food. Wow! What a beautiful idea and a great way to discover authentic Turkish cuisine with family and friends. After trying several Turkish restaurants in Calgary, I can confidently say that this is probably the best Turkish restaurant I have experienced so far in the city. It may look like a small neighbourhood spot, but the quality of the food, the attention to detail and the warmth of the service make it truly special. Honestly, this place deserves to be discovered by all of Calgary. I highly recommend everyone to come and give it a try. You might just find your new favourite restaurant.
I ordered the Iskender kebab and it was absolutely delicious, with a very generous portion. The service was excellent—Denis was kind, attentive, and made the experience even better. I was also offered a complimentary tea, which was a lovely touch. Highly recommend this place!
Very disappointing experience. The portion size was decent, but they forgot to put the garlic sauce in my beef donair which made the meat extremely dry. After a long, busy day, I was really looking forward to an easy, satisfying meal, but ending up with a donair without sauce was a huge letdown. It honestly ruined the whole experience.
100% recommended
tldr; food was a bit oily but good otherwise. Service wasn't great but may be they were training new staff. Would consider returning when more experienced staff present or at a busier time when more experienced staff present. Ordered Adana nazik, iskender, gavur dagi salad, and kunefe. The Adana kebab was very juicy and the eggplant puree was flavorful. The iskender tasted good, like I've had at other places, but may have been oversalted. Additionally, both these dishes were quite oily. The salad was an interesting combination with fresh ingredients but the ingredients didn't seem balanced (ie more walnuts would have made it better). The complimentary bread, acili ezme, and hummus were good. The complimentary Turkish tea at the end tasted quite tannic liked it was overbrewed or the leaves were steeped too many time. Kunefe was freshly made to order so was hot and crunchy but would have preferred the syrup to be sweet. The service wasn't great as the girl serving us didn't know basic things about the food on the menu and required a lot of help from the other male employee.
The kebab was delicious
Best restaurant ever very nice food special the worker are so nice
Went here with my Turkish husband and was sadly disappointed with our meal. I had the kebab and he had pide. My meal was okay but the pide was very unauthentic and bland and the price did not reflect the quality. Sadly won’t be back.
It's rare to be met with the level of care we received in our service today. From the start, the restaurant was so accommodating with our reservation changes and even took our order in advance since we were running late for iftar. We ordered their ali nazik, iskender kebab, adana and chicken kebabs and were given complimentary hummus, baba ghanoush, ezme, bread and tea at the end of our meal. Everything was so fresh and the quantity was well worth the price. Ambiance is also quite nice and for so much food, we only ended up paying ~$20 per person. Ultimately, what set this place apart from others is how attentive and accommodating the staff was. The woman who took our orders was SO friendly and they were sweet enough to offer us a free dessert at the end that we were inquiring about (it was kazandibi and I highly recommend trying it!). Cannot wait to be back here! :)
"First time trying Turkish food and I’m officially hooked! We ordered the mixed platter and it was massive—easily enough to share and then some. Every piece of meat was juicy and perfectly seasoned, especially the Adana lamb abd beef kebabs. You can tell everything is made fresh to order. We finished the meal with some traditional Turkish tea, which was the perfect palate cleanser. Huge portions, friendly staff, and great value. We will definitely be back!" Location 17 Avenue Calgary, long weekend family day dinner
About Turkish Kebab House
The original Turkish Kebab House, on 17 Avenue SE in International Avenue, where all its meat is halal. It serves the same charcoal-grilled kebabs, Iskender and lahmacun as the newer Macleod Trail SW branch.
What to order
The Iskender kebab and the beyti kebab are the ones diners keep recommending, and the lamb pocket sandwich is a good lighter choice. The Adana and chicken kebabs are juicy and well seasoned, and the ali nazik is another good main. For a group, the mixed platter is big enough to share.
Making the most of it
Fresh bread and dip come to the table, with tea at the end of the meal, which makes for a relaxed sit-down meal. Reservations can be made, and staff will take your order in advance if you are running late for iftar. Parking is easy to find, and there is an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.
Diners say the Iskender is absolutely delicious, with a very generous portion, and that the staff are kind and attentive. For takeout, check that the sauces are in before you leave.