Walking around Istanbul and needing an authentic dinner place....i, of course, turned to yelp for help! Found this place close by with ravishing reviews, so why not. Get there and easily seated. Small place but people were constantly going in and out and place was buzzing with tourist and locals alike. Menu properly labelled with prices so not a tourist trap. Sat down and ordered the lamb chops and the Adana kebabs (minced meat). Both dishes outstanding. The lamb chops were the best I've ever had. Grilled just right to perfection. Seasoned well with Turkish spices and meat was juicy. The kebabs were the same. Juicy and succulent and perfectly seasoned. Came with complimentary lavash and spicy hummus dip and some pickled veggies. Service quick and portion sizes just right. When in Istanbul, a must try for sure. Cheers! Happy eating! read more

Antakya Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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I was going to try the turkey lamb chop. So I pick a restaurant close to grand plaza. It was close to the tram station. There are four chops in the set. The chop was pan fried to almost well. I am guessing they don't ask about the temperature. Overall the food is good. The meat here is a bit tougher than the United State. They are likely seasoned. The meal comes with grilled pepper, tomato and turkey blow bread. read more

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The restaurant did not high pressure us as we were walking by unlike so many restaurants. The staff was very professional and the food was superb. read more

Ok so this place was AMAZING! We found it on YELP and are so glad we made the walk after going through the grand Bazaar. I would highly recommend this place. The food is phenomenal. read more

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We ordered first lamb chop it was salty Meat kebab was very bad taste Juice was good Service was average Environment was not bad read more

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This restaurant is located in the tourist area Sultanahmet so the price is a bit higher. We tried many different dishes such as the pide, Adana kebab, iskender kebab, hatay kebab, steak, lamb and even chicken fettuccine alfredo. The staff is friendly and service is quick. They serve complimentary puffed up pita with yogurt (or you can ask for butter). There is one bathroom. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Overall food is good. Some of it lacked salt. read more

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Grape leaves are amazing -- truly some of the best I've had. Very kind and attentive staff

I stumbled upon this restaurant around dinner time and decided to give it a try. I was seated right away and was greeted by a friendly waiter. I ordered the Testi Kababi, which came in a clay pot with lamb and vegetables like peppers and onions. It was delicious and very flavorful. It was quite the experience because my waiter brought it to the table flaming and then he opens the pot and pours the yummy food on the plate. It was a huge portion and between the two of us, we had plenty of leftovers. I highly recommend checking out this place for an authentic and delicious meal. read more

Your meal brought to the table in full flames. Cool !! I stumbled on this southern Turkey cuisine restaurant walking from the Grand Bazaar. Just off the main street Yeniceriler Cd. I'm always in search of unique local flavors, Antakya does not disappoint. There's inside, but why. The weather is great and so are the sites around, grab a table on the front sidewalk. Parking is an issue. But on vacation I walk almost everywhere. Specifically look for the page with the Antakya cuisine. The other dishes are all over the city, but these are truly unique. Granted we ordered way too much for two people but we couldn't decide. First an entire chicken (thank goodness he was kinda small) was stuffed with a flavorful rice and herb mixture, then encased in salt. Assuming it is baked. When the Tuzda Tavuk is brought to the table, it is in full flames. The waiter, with fireproof mitts, cracks the thick salt layer to hatch the juicy tender chicken. Our other choice was Testi Kababi, a clay pot of vegetables- onions, red and green peppers, and mushrooms; and lamb. My impression- think Turkish fajitas. The mixture bakes in a red clay pot and when perfectly tender the pot in full flames is brought to the table. The waiter takes care to knock off the ashes and carefully cracks the pot's seal. Then pours the contents into a sizzling hot cast iron bowl on the table. A large bowl of fresh hot pita bread was served for both dishes. This was enough food for 4-5 people, but so worth it. Our waiter was simply fabulous. His personality and service top notch. He even left us a small sample of baklava to try with our check. PS - be careful when asking for the check. Sometimes it's misunderstood for hot tea. Ask for the bill. I would absolutely return here again. read more

Antakya Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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We ordered lamb chops & meat kebab Lamb chop was salty Meat kebab wasn't good taste Service average Environment ok read more

In Istanbul for a photo gig, I came by this spot because of the reviews and it's close to my hotel. A man, I assume was the owner, Valentin, pointed out a few dishes, but indicated that the stewed Lamb (photo) was great. My grandfather was a Mexican cowboy, he made a flatbread called "pan del Campo" that was similar, he also butchered lamb and prepared a dish that was similar. I have to say, this is definitely the best meal I've had all year, maybe it reminded me of my abuelo, but I guess sometimes the best meals are nostalgic. Definitely recommend, will be back again on this trip! read more

Antakya Restaurant - Steam puffed flat bread with yogurt dipping - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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One of the few places I hit every time I'm in the Old City. Grab a seat outside and try anything on the menu. It's all fantastic!

We Stopped by on the way to the grand bazaar. The food was good though not spectacular and staff attentive and friendly.

Hello...American in Istanbul here traveling for work. I stumbled across this place after visiting the Grand Bazaar and I am so happy I did. Easily one of the best meals I've ever had!! And the people were super kind. I'll come back here next time I'm in Istanbul for sure. read more

Antakya Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Walked into this Resturant after flying into Istanbul. We were greeted by a courteous server who explained the menu to us. We started the meal with a complimentary bread plate. The large crusty flatbread was steaming fresh from the over. It was covered in toasted sesame. A great start to an awesome meal. I had a mixed kabob plate plate which had a mince meat kabob, lamb kabob, and chicken kabob. It was on a bed of fried bread topped with a creamy Laban. One of the best Turkish meals I've ever had. My husband had the Adana which was also very well spiced. The complementary apple tea is a must try!! Delicious!!! read more

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We stopped here for dinner after a long day of exploring the city . I received what I ordered but my wife received the most expensive dish on the menu despite not ordering it. The waiter said something to us in Turkish without explaining after I ordered and next thing we know there are multiple staff members at our table taking a whole fish out of tin foil and place it on my wife's plate (she ordered a chicken dish). After spending ~$175 on a mediocre meal (by far the most expensive meal we had in Istanbul), the waiter insisted on us leaving a tip for him. Fair warning in case this happens to anyone else. read more

The food at this place was amazing! We're so glad that we took the short walk to it. Always trust a Yelp Review! I felt bad for the guy across the street because everyone would always walk up and come here. Great food and presentation! read more

Antakya Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Excellent menu and unmatched service! We had just landed in Istanbul for the first time and stopped in for a snack. We quickly wished for larger appetite. Oscar made a number of very helpful recommendations. We then did an override and picked a few familiar and lighter options- green salad, hummus, and cheese pita. Oscar then brought out a complementary bread basket, which included a steaming hot puffed sesame pita straight from the oven, accompanied by a spicy red sauce and rich yogurt dip - delish! The food arrived at the table very quickly. Everything was delicious. As we ate, we watched the stream of impeccably plated dishes delivered to other lucky diners. The lamb casserole in particular smelled amazing! By the end of our light meal, we were envious of the other diners, but stuffed. Oscar insisted that we try the local baklava and us a piece. It is fabulous! Not too rich or sweet, so the flavors of the nut filling really pop. Of course we did manage to save room for the apple tea mentioned in so many reviews. It is wonderful, particularly on a cool day. Overall, it is clear that management of this restaurant is more interested in creating a happy customer than turning a quick tourist dollar. Don't let the location fool you. This Turkish restaurant is top notch. Their chef and waitstaff are committed to a perfect dining experience. read more

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The food was amazing in the service was excellent. The restaurant is very cozy and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. read more

Antakya Restaurant - My dinner - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

It is very expensive, you feel the pressure of the place and the waiters to spend money and to get up and leave as soon as possible here as in every restaurant in Turkey. read more

The ambiance It is quiet nice and average at best nothing to crazy. They Service is quiet slow even though it is empty at 17:00 they took such a long time until the food was served and you'd think it would taste good but no, my family's appetite was ruined for the rest of the day. I personally don't mind the food tasting a bit off especially when I need to get my protein in but this time I just couldn't finish my chicken it was just too awful. Most of this district has bad food so I wouldn't recommend you eating here at all. They people that worked here were nice and I think they understood that we disliked the food and offered tea on the house. So I hope they improve read more

The yelp rating is over rated. The service was horrible , the food was average and extremely expensive. You can get much better food and service at other places. Pls avoid this restaurant at all cost. It is a trap for travelers that are visiting the historic sites. read more

2nd day in Istanbul we decided to try some transitional Turkish dishes, and yelp brought us here... The food is very fresh and yummy! The chicken in salt definitely a treat to the eyes and stomach The grill whole sea bass very fresh and cooked just right!! The hosts here are so friendly and nice. Especially the "31" years old single host Valentine!!! Free dessert on the house too read more

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Great food and service and location! Would definitely recommend, and not too far from main attractions in the old town.

The pita was really unique and I loved the seeds on it. The meze platter was not as good as the previous ones I tried but was still solid. The lentil soup was great too! read more

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For starters, we had Karisik Meze Tabagi. It is a mix sampler of all of their dip appetizers. I loved their humus, Patlican Soslu (Eggplant souce) and Abugannus (eggplant salad). We also had One of their regional special food Tuzda Kuzu. It is lamb baked in salt and good for 2 people. The lamb is really tender and the lamb taste is really good. Along with the rice mixed with herbs, nuts and dried fruits, it is really awesome. Paired with their house wine, it is perfect! To top it all, try their turkish coffee. I've learned ahead that turkish coffee is really sweet. So if you are a coffee lover like me who loves to enjoy the pure flavors of coffee, you can ask the servers to put just a little sugar to your mix. read more

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I am not going to lie, at first I did not like this place. I was upset that map led us to a tourist area to eat. The guy was super aggressive like the other restaurant promoters. In general that is usually a bad sign when travelling but I was wrong. We sat down and I got the lamb with the eggplant blend into a dip. It was amazing. The lamb was super tender and paired well with the eggplant and the bread. It was one of the best meals I had in Turkey. We use the app to get free Turkish coffees and the gave us free apple teas on the house. Despite being in a tourist area, I would come back. I will note, it is not cheap as street food but is not crazy price. read more

Absolutely Delicious! The Chicken in Salt crust is Outstanding! The Complimentary Fresh Baked Pita is a wonderful plus. Service was delightful too! Highly recommend! read more

Excellent dinner location. The food was delicious and plentiful. We ordered a clay pot entree which was enough for two. Can't wait to come back and try it again. read more

I mostly ate appetizers and they were excellent. Nice fresh bread (both the pita-type and something more roll-like) came with them too. Didn't drink wine but my friends did and they seemed very happy. Service was very friendly and attentive. We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air. read more

I am writing this review as I sip my delicious apple tea outside anatakya restaurant. Murat was our server. Very friendly . We ordered bunch of items. All were delicious. There bread and homemade yogurt is good. Very kind staff and respectful. Fast service! I will def come again !!!! read more

Excellent mixed plate! Wonderful service and staff. Generous- must try the Kunefe dessert you won't be disappointed! read more

We had the pita bread, hummus and the Hatay Kebab. The service was great, the bathroom was clean and the food was amazing!

Amazing food and service!!! A must in Istanbul! We orderes the adana kabob, chicken quesadilla, and cheese and meat pita..they were all so delicious! read more

Antakya Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Get the salt lamb, it'll change your life. don't fill up on the free bread (as tempting as it may be) read more

Came in for lunch, ordered lamb kebabs. Nice restaurant for kebabs, very close to grand bazzar! Servie is really good and liked the eggplant salad the most! read more

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The food was great and the service amazing! I loved the fresh fish on the grill. Nice Turkish experience! read more

Antakya has very high reviews, but it's not clear why. Overall our meal was pricy and poorly executed. Price: 195 lira for two appetizers, two entrees, and two beers. Highlights: Lamb and cheese pide, fresh bread. Lowlights: everything else Our meal started with a complimentary breadbasket, topped with piping hot, fresh bread. We tore through it, only to be greeted by rubbery old bread underneath. Next up were appetizers. The dolmas were dreadful. They were flavorless, slimy, and falling apart. It's as if they came from a cheap can. The Kibbeh were better, but not evenly heated. The insides were lukewarm. Of the entrees, the lamb and cheese pide was tasty and enjoyed by all. The other dish we ordered (a bread wrapped kebap listed as a regional specialty) was mediocre. Maybe there's a trick to ordering here. There were definitely some nice things but the overall meal wasn't a good one. read more

Came here on our first night based on yelp reviews. The food and service were excellent. We tried the clay pot chicken, pide (Turkish pizza) some small plates, everything was great. This place lived up to its expectations. We returned a second time to try the kebab platter, and the rice pudding these were also delicious. read more

Antakya Restaurant - Kebab platter - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Get a clay pot dish, it's on fire, tons of fun and will give you a small taste of salt bae! (known as Nusret in Turkey) Their kebaps and appys are all good, but certainly not the best in the Grand Bazaar area. It's a bit pricier but the quality and the hospitality is worth it! Plus, free apple tea! :) read more