Experienced iskender on a food tour. We were treated to a couple dishes. The lamb was the best we…read morehad in Turkey, made so good by pouring a water butter on top of the plate. You can see and feel the care of long-time family ownership here.

Impeccable Kebabs. I didn't much care for any Turkish Kebabs I tried in America, but the ones at…read moreplaces like this have thoroughly changed my opinion on how good a Turkish kebab can be.

This is a go to place for family for a really long time now. The food don't get me wrong is so good…read moreI had iskender and it was delicious. I won't fail to mention that the steps down to the bathroom are super slippery and I fell and but slid all the way downstairs. Also the tea is maybe the worst tea I've ever had in a turkish restaurant while this has nothing to do with the food itself it was a huge bummer considering we just wanted to have a nice cup of tea and digest and not a single person made it half way through their glass.

A MUST TRY. As an American, I have been SO impressed with food here in Turkey and if you are in the…read morearea, this restaurant is an absolute MUST-TRY if you're looking for great food. I had some of THEE BEST chicken kebab I've ever had in this country here. The beef kebab was also tender and flavorful. You cannot go wrong with any of these! The service was quick and prompt, and the servers were great at making recommendations. I came here in the winter so we sat indoors which felt a bit cramped however, there is also outdoor seating during the nicer weather months. If I'm ever back here in Istanbul, I would definitely come back. And if you're reading this, you NEED to try the Old Ottoman!

This was my first night in Istanbul and I eased tired from traveling from cappadocia earlier in the…read moreday. This restaurant was close to my hotel and had great reviews on Yelp. When I arrived there was only one other customer inside. The restaurant decor was cute and I very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming. This spot was a bit pricey just like most of the restaurants in this touristy area. I had certain Turkish entrees i wanted to try during my vacation. I ordered the Iskender kebab which is beef and pita bread covered with tomato sauce with yogurt on the side. I ordered a side salad to go with it. The dish was very delicious as you can tell in one of my pics. I chatted with some of the staff about life in Istanbul. I was offered some complimentary pomegranate tea before I left and it hit the spot. This is definitely a place to check out when you're in the area.

Great place to try authentic Turkish cuisine. They have a huge variety of dishes, and thanks to the…read morecafeteria-style presentation, we were able to point to different dishes and try all kinds of things that we normally wouldn't have tried since we didn't know what they were or what they looked like. We also bumped into a local woman outside who told us what her favorite items at the restaurant were. My favorite dish was definitely the meat topped with the pomegranate seeds and the oblong falafel-looking thing shown in the first picture. I wasn't a fan of the intestines. I also wasn't a fan of the Turkish pizza with lamb, though I felt the lamb all throughout my time in Istanbul was a bit too gamey for my taste. Overall, I think this is an excellent place to get a taste of what Turkish cuisine has to offer--we came here towards the end of our trip but I think coming here at the beginning would have been a better choice, so that we could know what kinds of dishes to seek out during the rest of our time at Turkey!

We went because of the good reviews, but our experience wasn't that pleasant. The service was very…read moregood and the ambiance was fine -- casual and normal -- but the food and the overall Turkish experience were not what we expected. The portion was small, most of the dish was cold (if it's meant to be served that way, it's not to my liking; and if it was supposed to be hot, then it definitely wasn't). The flavor could be much better -- it was quite bland. If you like that type of food, then it might be for you, but it wasn't the best Turkish food. I wouldn't return.

This was my local kebap place when I stayed in Istanbul. It's a nice under the radar local…read morerestaurant that's been here over 20 years. They have a full menu of kebap, pide and lahmacun all at very reasonable prices. My favorite dish was the doner with rice and I also really liked their Iskender kebap. They don't speak much English but were always very friendly.

One of our favorite meals in Istanbul. The meat was so juicy and flavorful in both the spicy adana…read moreand the chicken. And mixed perfectly with the onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. A wrap is not too large; most of us ordered seconds. Prices were als9 fantastic. Limited indoor and outdoor seating, but we were able to be seated easily Wednesday evening.

Mega hyped because of the Anthony Bourdain connection. I've been in Istanbul for over a month, and…read moreevery time I have visited the place has been completely packed with tourists. Many of the reviews mention the good service, but my experience has been a little different. The main guy who greets and helps everyone when they arrive seems completely over the whole thing. I can understand why, though. They still have an enormous amount of tourist business because of the Bourdain connection, and people seem to come here almost as a pilgrimage. I'm staying nearby and have visited several times because of all the hype, and the experience has been pretty much the same every time. The person in charge does not seem particularly concerned about whether you wait to order or not. If it is the afternoon, he will sometimes toss you a menu, walk away, and mumble something about waiting for a table. One time, I arrived about 15 minutes before closing and noticed that there was a table available. I was told they were closing soon and that the last orders, with about 10 kebabs already cooking on the grill, were for someone else. That was basically it. No option was offered to take anything to go either. There is certainly nothing wrong with closing when you are ready to close, but after becoming accustomed to the incredibly friendly and welcoming service at so many local kebab restaurants in Istanbul, the lack of enthusiasm here was surprising. In a strange way, it is almost refreshing. They seem to have so much business that they really could not care less whether you eat there or not. The food itself is very good, but honestly, it isn't significantly better than some of the other places nearby. There are several restaurants in the area serving fantastic Adana kebab, with more seating and much warmer service. Overall, glad I tried it because of the Bourdain connection, but for me, the hype is much bigger than the experience.

I'm Turkish-American. Came here from abroad with my Turkish wife to see friends we hadn't seen in…read moreyears. Was supposed to be a special occasion, but the service ruined our time. Good food, but such terrible service that we wish we went elsewhere. We waited almost an hour for a beer. Food temp wasn't good. Had stomach issues later that night. There was a cat going to the bathroom above our table on the rafters... very unsanitary. And the server had the balls to ask for a higher tip after we tipped him at (high) US standards. Total trash. The owner was there. Should have complained to him, but was just happy to get the hell out of there. If you're visiting from abroad, avoid this place. For the price, you could eat 3 other meals with 10x better service.

If you are not Turkish and looking for a kebab place, this review is for you. Yelp should really…read moreamp up its presence in Turkey. Locals are already in the know about Bedri Usta. This is the flagship store where you can also meet the celebrity chef himself. He is not Salt Bae, but he also well deserves the TV fame. Bedri Chef lives and breathes his restaurant and the chain he created from scratch. He used to be homeless and slept on the streets. Now he is a restauranteur that employs homeless, drug addicts and rehabilitates them with love, trust, and a chance of employment. Food is impeccable. When in doubt, ask the executive chef on the daily mezze selection and mixed kebab places. Fun spot, but the food really speaks for itself.

This is a fantastic, fantastic place for ciger or kebab. The dudes working there have so much…read moreclass, as soon as you sit down you are ready to expect great service. Food is so tasty, it's the perfect complement to the great service they provide. I highly recommend the kunefe as the perfect touch to a great meal. For tourists or those new to Turkish cuisine, you must go to Hulusi. They are doing it right. Meat!

From the owner: ciğer veçöp şişread more

Çiya Sofrası and Kebab occupy opposite sides of a busy street in Kadıköy where Chef and owner Musa…read moreDağdeviren has created a destination for not only grilled Meats and Mezze but also a lively atmosphere. Part of Istanbul's Anatolian coast, the Kebab Restaurant later giving way to Çiya Sofrası and its fame, guests here are situated across three floors where the menu offers a well-culled list of items prepared traditionally including complex Mercimek Corbası and golden Dumplings generously stuffed with ground Meat. A growing business with three locations, all a few meters apart, Ciya's Lahmacun arrives beautifully crisp with Toppings well-balanced while Spicy Lamb Kebab doesn't hold back in its liberal application of Peppers. Part of the dining scene since 1998, five men in an open kitchen working fast on the ground floor, Babaganoush is served more chunky than those elsewhere and whether one choose this or the signature Ciya Kebab wrapped in Pastry the results are impressive across-the-board.

A must visit while in Istanbul. The kebab was incredible with amazing service and they were able to…read morehelp us English speakers as well.

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

Walking around Istanbul and needing an authentic dinner place....i, of course, turned to yelp for…read morehelp! 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!