I recently got takeout from Balkan in St. Louis (to bring back to Texas), and it was fantastic! The food was absolutely delicious, with bold, authentic flavors that made the meal unforgettable. Devin's service was top-notch--he made sure everything was packed perfectly and handled the process smoothly and professionally. If you're looking for great food and excellent service, Balkan is a must-try, and Devin really adds to the experience!

I knew the Turks are very proud of their bread, this is the first I actually tried it and it didn't disappoint! Fast service and very lively on a Friday night. Food was very good. They have their own signature lager brewed by Urban Chestnut.

Overall, I would recommend coming for excellently spiced and flavorful food that you really can't get anywhere else in St. Louis! But... be prepared to wait and to sit in a crowded space, as the spot is small for how popular they are. Maybe order it to go if you can. WAIT TIME: The place is BUSY. We came in around 1:30pm on a Saturday for a late lunch and they still had a long line circling around the small space. It moved at a decent pace though, waited maybe 20-30 mins in line to order. FOOD: We split a beef pide and a spicy chicken doner. Both dishes I would highly recommend! The chicken was so well spiced, and the flatbread was unlike anything I've had before. The menu was simple to order from and all the food sounded tasty. They do an excellent job at marinading and bringing out all the flavors! SERVICE: Counter ordering, they direct you where to sit, and have the iPad paying method. The cashier seemed to be the manager who was also directing workers/customers, so he did a great job at balancing it all. AMBIANCE: It's a very small space, so it's a little tight, and pretty smoky with the open kitchen. The music was fun and upbeat though. Just be prepared to be surrounded by a lot of movement and noise. PRICE: The plates were each $16. For the amount of food you get, it seems reasonable.

This is my favorite Balkan restaurant. This is also the only Balkan restaurant I've been to. It was impressive. The line was impressive. I can see why. Pide: It's a fancy pizza. I'm being facetious but it was delicious. The oven fire created a slight char. The spreads added a lot of flavor and the veggies on top almost convinced me that it was healthy. the side of red cabbage was flavorful also. Kumru: Chunky meat sandwich with cheese, olives, pickles, red flavor paste. It was hearty and salty in a good way. It came with a side of forgettable chips. Brown butter hummus. The hummus was unique and even the pita was flavorful. The pita had a good char to them too. Would I come here again? Yes. Everything tasted and looked good.

Ridiculously good Mediterranean food. Of course, there's a line out the door pretty much anytime you go (I went on a Sunday at midday), but they're super efficient at getting the line moving and getting everyone seated, so it isn't really an issue. It maybe took 20 minutes for us to be seated, and another 15/20 to get our food. Nothing we had was bad, and I would definitely go again to try more of these incredible looking meals. The menu is simple but you really can't go wrong. Here's what I tried: -pide with chicken: 11/10 - OUT of this world. Not only was the chicken topping good, flavorful, and tender, but the actual bread part of the pide was so perfectly executed it had us absolutely floored. The inclusion of the cheese just added to the richness, and created the best cheese pull ever. It also came with a sort of pickled cabbage salad that was a fun way of adding some veg and freshness to meal. -lahmacun with plant based meat: 8/10 - I loved how soft the bread was and the "fake" meat was surprisingly super delicious, but my only qualm was that there was way too much cilantro for my liking. I do like cilantro, but the flavor was super overpowering in my opinion. Still good, though. -brown butter hummus: 7.5/10 - This wasn't for me because I prefer cold, fresh hummus, but it tasted very much of brown butter and was incredibly rich. The hummus was warm as it came out, fairly smooth, clearly homemade, and had some spice to it from the chili oil. The pita it came with was warm and soft, and my dad (who is obsessed with hummus) was really wowed.

Wonderful, unique delicious food. Add the hummus appetizer to whatever else you get. Their hummus is unlike any other I've ever had. I'm a fan of the pida for an entree and their iced tea is perfect...only slightly sweetened. A little noisy but the staff is very attentive and people are very friendly at the communal table in the middle. My only regret is that they are only open for lunch. If you're in the area it is a definite must try destination.

10/10 would highly recommend! It gets extremely busy on weekends but weekdays aren't too crazy. The service is great and quick. Can't go wrong with anything on their menu. My favorite is the beef pide and spicy cauliflower lahmacun. Already thinking about when I'll be back again!

I ordered the spicy beef Lamachun and it was fantastic! I wish there were more unique delicious ethnic restaurants around to break the chain restaurant monotony. Ingredients were great, fresh pita bread made from a wood fired oven (pictured), hot and juicy spicy beef cooked hot and fresh, mixed with some delicious red crisp cabbage and a light drizzle of a cool cucumber tzatziki type sauce. I will definitely be back for more!

This trip was much anticipated since the place is so hyped up!! Admittedly, I had to google a lot of terms on the menu but nothing was hard to find. I liked that most options had a way to be vegetarianized. The online ordering system was easy. When we went to pick up, the place was PACKED! I was glad we thought to order ahead. Cute interior with lots of colors. Simple tables. A friendly employee immediately noticed me (despite the huge crowd) and took me to the takeout table. My order was there right on time. I got the vegetarian Pide and it was so good! The bread was perfectly cooked, very soft and chewy and flavorful. The toppings were delicious and all flavors worked well together. That said, it wasn't' particularly unique to me - it was very good, but not necessarily something I'd go far out of my way for.

A MUST TRY SPOT. I recommend coming here way in advance of them opening as the line will literally be all the way back to the parking lot. It will still wind all the way to the parking lot despite them queueing a line in the store when they open up. Ha! It's that good! Brown butter hummus and bread: Orgasmic! The hummus just had really amazing flavors. It was as if I've never tried hummus before in my life. And the food we ordered were yet to come. Kumru: The portions to this was surprisingly large. The various meats and two cheeses were divine within the somun (pita-like bread). The olives, pickles, and red pepper paste added a yummy twist to the flavor profile. Loved this pick! And so did the hubs. Pide: This seems to be the popular pick, even with our local friends. It was a little messy to consume but oh so delicious. It's an interesting twist to a flatbread with the fire oven providing a slightly charred bread. The various spreads (ajvar and kajmak) added really different flavors and moisture to this dish. The side of kupus (red cabbage) was a really good topping. This place is just amazing! I've never had Balkan food before, and I am pleasantly surprised that it's so flavorful. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely pay this place another visit.