Ghazal Lounge and Bar - McKinney — Restaurant in McKinney

A rather bizarre and underwhelming dining experience. Showed up at 630pm on a weeknight to an otherwise empty restaurant. We were greeted by a man standing in the middle of the floor staring wordlessly as if to say “what do you want”. Maybe he thought I was there to sell him something, I don’t know. Eventually he figured out we wanted to eat and waved us towards the empty tables.

Our server greeted us and provided water for the table—three room temp crinkly plastic water bottles that looked like they came from a Costco haul. That’s fine. I like to stay hydrated and have nothing against Costco.

The menu…All the main entrees had some kind of “weekend only” designation so that left us to choose either tacos or tika “burgers”. I’ll be charitable and describe the cuisine as “Indian-Mexican-American fusion”, if that’s even a thing.

We ordered tika burgers and shrimp tacos. I don’t know how long it took for the food to come exactly. But it was long enough to have a healthy debate at the table about how long it’s appropriate to wait for ordered food before finding other food to eat. Before we could finish our debate, the food came. Actually, some of the food came. The poor schmuck dumb enough to order the shrimp tacos had to wait another 7 minutes to eat. I did actually time that one. While he ordered crispy and regular spiced, soft and Indian spiced arrived. That’s what you get for ordering Mexican food at an Indian restaurant, I guess.

More about the food…there’s nothing “burger-y” about the chicken tika burger. Think tepid, tika flavored chicken salad inside a cold squishy bun. Oh and with a room temperature square of cheddar cheese. And a side of fries rivaling a bag of Taqis in taste. It wasn’t to my liking but in fairness another in our party ordered it and thought it quite good. Maybe my palette isn’t sophisticated enough to appreciate the dish.

It’s safe to say we...

“Great Vibes, Delicious Food, and Smooth Hookah!”

I recently visited Ghazal Lounge and it was such a memorable experience. The decor was stylish and modern, with comfortable seating perfect for a long hangout. The music was at just the right volume, creating a lively yet relaxing atmosphere.

The food was a standout! I tried the loaded fries and their signature veg Tacos—both were bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The drink menu was equally impressive, and their mojito was a personal favorite.

The hookah was excellent. They had a wide range of flavors, and I opted for the watermelon-mint mix. The hookah was smooth, the smoke was dense, and the staff was quick to adjust the coals whenever needed.

Service was exceptional—our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about both the menu and the hookah flavors. The pricing felt fair for the quality, and they even had a happy hour discount on drinks.

Overall, Ghazal Lounge is a must-visit for hookah lovers and foodies alike. Whether you’re planning a date night or catching up with friends, this spot won’t disappoint as they have private lounge as well for...

Lounge 5/5 ; Restaurant 3/5

Visited the lounge about three weeks ago for the first time—absolutely loved it! Live music (Benny was great) followed by a DJ on Friday created an awesome vibe. The food jalapeno chicken, lamb chops, shrimp 65, crispy gobi, peanut mixture was delicious, and the paan raas hookah was smooth and flavorful, seems like one of the rare ones serving the flavor. Cocktails were great , they also serve Taj Mahal. Only downside was the seating it felt a bit cramped, with parties overlapping.

Went to the restaurant a few days later with some work buddies on a quiet Wednesday evening (we were the only ones there). The jalapeno chicken was still a hit, but the lamb chops didn’t match the weekend quality. Desserts were a letdown—tres leches tasted store-bought and soggy, and the double ka meetha was disappointing. As a new spot, they might still be working out kinks, especially with desserts. One annoyance, staff kept rearranging tables while we were there, which felt unnecessary with customers present. Lounge is a must-visit, restaurant needs...