This restaurant and its branch over in Vadnais Heights are both well-run. This is a family business whose initial owners I did meet in 2005 or so (Ali and wife currently in Turkey retired). All their food is recommended. I only wish that they had tahini and shawarma, which are not necessarily Turkish dishes. I recommend them without any reservations, although some of their personnel at times are not necessarily professional. Like always, whenever the owners' relatives are in the restaurant, you can tell because there is prompt attention. When the owners' relatives are not on duty, one can notice some lagging. read more

Used to go here a lot so this is an older late review- hoping this place still turns out good Turkish/ Mediterranean food The portion sizes were huge and lots to share Kebab Comb was our typical order (2 people) $28.95 Beef and lamb doner, chicken kebab, two kotte kebabs, spices topped with grilled green peppers, onions, and tomatoes and lots of salad- always had leftovers Very casual - order at the counter - small seating area in the back Staff efficient read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Friendly, local, family owned, authentic, handmade restaurant. As we were scanning the menu, the employee recommended the #31 and it was a lovely sampler platter. We also got stuffed grape leaves(num!) and the spinach pie ( honestly, I like the Greek version better, this was a little too dense for me.) We got free street parking and ate at one of the 10 tables. Order at the counter and they'll deliver to your table. read more

Went there for the first time really great experience, the food was really great, menu is stacked, pricing is great, and quality of the food was fresh and really good, only thing is not much space in there, not sure how they manage on busy days! read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Turkish cuisine - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

It depends. I liked it my first time for lunch but that was several years ago. More recently I was doing errands nearby so it made sense for a quick lunch; unfortunately the falafel in my falafel platter was dry like it had been sitting around or maybe overcooked (or both). And the rice was a bit gritty as well. But the price was decent and it was convenient. Maybe I would try it again on a weekend or at night when presumably there is more turnover in the orders/ingredients? read more

Immediately, trying to decide whether I should give four or five stars, but I cannot think of something I don't like about this place! I have been going here since moving back to Minnesota after undergraduate in 2008. I have never had a bad sandwich here. Or bad food in general. The food is plentiful and the fries are actually really really good. They remind me of McDonald's fries. I always get number 15, the lamb and beef gyro with french fries. It comes with tomatoes and onions, and then I ask for extra tzatziki sauce ifI'm getting it to go, otherwise they give you a bottle if you're eating in. I've also had the platters, the falafel and some of my friends have had the chicken platter. All of it was delicious. Wonderful flavors, hot and plentiful, and the meat is so tender with perfect spices. Even the pita bread is nice warm, and it taste fresh. It's not too thick to overwhelm the taste of the meat and it's not too thin so you can still eat it like a pocket sandwich. Honestly, one of the things that I love the most about this restaurant is that it is so consistent with the dishes that it makes. 15 years later, and the meat taste the same as back into the day. The picture I have is for the newer location off of Highway 61 in White Bear. Set me back $9.50. I just had this yesterday, and now that I'm writing the review, I want to eat it again, even though I just finished brunch! And am full! read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Black Sea Doner Sandwich doner = what I called gyro in my review. - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

While we've only been there twice. The food and service were very good. I plan on returning. read more

Love going to this place for lunch. Great service; even better food. I had #30. Love how they cook it up so you get the smells coming off the grill. Portions are large for price paid. Very reasonable lunch/dinner. I should have taken a pic before I ate, but as you can see it was really good. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - #30 combo - It was really good as you can see - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

No frills, but amazing gyros! Choice of rice or French fries, both were equally as good! read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Located close to Hamline University on Snelling in St.Paul, Black Sea Restaurant, is well known in the area and been around for many year. The owners appear to no longer be at this location any more since they opened another location in White Bear. It's a small restaurant and parking can be tricky but we found something right out front. It wasn't busy on a Saturday afternoon, thankfully. We walked in and the floor was super sticky. I assumed, maybe, they used some kind of cleaner that did it since the floor actually looked clean. We ordered the Sultan Combo for/3 people which had chicken & beef kebabs, doners w/grilled green peppers, onions, & tomatoes it came with rice with no option to do half rice and half bread. So we ordered fries and bread extra. We also didn't realize we had to order hummus or baba ganoush on the side which we didn't do. They did offer a tzatziki sauce which we had to request since it wasn't serviced with the meal. Over all it was just okay and won't go to this location again. We've come years ago and it was amazing. Perhaps it's the owner's love that made the food amazing but without them here it was very different. We do want to give it another chance at the White Bear location since we like Mediterranean food and we have never been to that location. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Sultan Combo for 3 people and a side of fries - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I went to Black Sea Restaurant on a Monday evening with 3 other people. To my knowledge there is no parking lot for this restaurant but luckily there was street parking available! The restaurant is not overly large and if you want to enjoy this food with a big group I recommend doing take out. I ordered the beef and lamb gyro with a side of rice. Two of the other people in my group ordered the same thing with a side of fries and the last person ordered a plate of gyro meat with salad, fries, and pita bread. I am a lover of Mediterranean food and gyros and always opt to order them. This particular gyro was nice and light and I enjoyed the fact that it was not messy, as most gyros can be. I am someone who likes a lot of sauces and flavors on my gyro and this did not have that. There was tzatziki sauce on the table but I needed more! Overall, my experience was good. The employees were nice, I received my food quickly, and the restaurant was clean. However, I felt cramped where we sat and was craving flavor after finishing my meal. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - a large menu board above the counter - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I personally like the owner because I think he's a good at hosting The baklava is always good the meat has a good flavor and I always love the coffee. read more

All I can say is delicious! I love the chicken shawarma and my husband really likes the gyro. We need to try more of the menu but when you really like something it's hard to venture beyond. read more

Good food, good price. Came here for a gyro. It was a clean sandwich in a little pita "pocket" that wasn't too 'bready' like regular pita. It was stuffed with gyro meat. That and a side of fries for under $10. Only complaint was the cucumber sauce wasn't up to par but no reason to skip on it. I'll definitely be back. read more

Great food and very reasonable prices! Have been here many times and have never been disappointed!

We enjoyed the platter and hummus starter. The place was newly renovated, so it felt clean and nice.

I ate here recently. I had the chicken pita salad. It was alright. The menu here was pretty basic.

Not too long ago I was in St. Paul for maybe a couple/three weeks over two visits. ( I was dealing with a really unpleasant situation.) I was staying in an oddly located hotel near the Black Sea. After dealing with difficult and unpleasant business during the day I found myself looking for simple, good, unpretentious (but delicious) takeout that I could take back to my hotel, to unwind and enjoy in peace and quiet. Black Sea filled the bill and then some! My first visit there, I placed my order, then watched the cook (perhaps the owner?). I felt like I was watching a great dance company. He was working quickly, with never a wasted motion. He clearly had been doing this for quite some time and had it down to a a f ma ine art! (Yeah, I know I'm weird about that kinda stuff.) In su But, back to the food! I tried the mezze plate, the beef skewers (no skewers in sight) and the chicken skewers. I think my favorite was the gyros chicken. It was moist, tender and flavorful! The beef was also beautifully tender and obviously high quality, I found it a bit under seasoned, but I'm old and the taste buds are dying. For your side, get the Basmati rice! It's perfectly cooked. I may have supplemented these meals with some wonder Greek feta cheese, Kalamata olives, extra pita, halva (etc.) from Bill's Imported Foods in Mpls (Lake and Lyndale), but that's another story. In summary, Black Sea provided affordable and delicious take out meals when I REALLY, REALLY needed them. Thanks, folks!! read more

If you want decent Mediterranean food on a budget- this is the place to go. I usually order the chicken gyro with rice but a couple times I try something new. I like it here but I can't help but compare it to Wally's which is my favorite place for Mediterranean food in the Twin Cities- so this place always falls short. There is limited narrow seating and street parking. If you come during lunch hour it can be pretty busy. I think the food could also use a little bit more seasoning but overall fine. I wouldn't recommend the chicken kebabs- as it seems the meat wasn't good anymore (the staff was nice enough to give us a discount because of this). Kudos to the staff for being friendly though for the most part. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Overall thoughts: pretty bland, cheap, generous portions We got the dolma plate (~$9) and a veggie sandwich (~$7). Pretty underwhelming considering the high reviews. Everything needed salt/additional seasoning, and the fries were okay at best. Still, a decent option considering the prices. Maybe the meat-based dishes are better seasoned. read more

Sadly was underwhelmed with the food from Black Sea. The falafel sandwich was not layered well and was lacking in flavor. Needs something in addition to the yogurt sauce. The dinner sandwich was okay. Fries were really good! They currently are take out only. Menu needs to be updated with current offerings. read more

This place has converted to more of a takeout/lunch counter vibe but the food is still great! Super fast service & friendly folks working. For some reason Google Maps is saying it's closed but it's very much open! The combo with all of the meats was delish. read more

This place plays its role perfectly. They're a no-frills place, and they do it very well. The food is good cheap stuff. The fries are basic, but they season them well which is nice. The meat is just regular gyro loaf meat, but it's done well. The food comes out QUICK, which is what you're looking for at this type of place. And the price is just right. A great cheap weeknight spot. read more

Paid $10 for the most full gyro I've had plus fries. The hot tea was great too. Walked out with a great meal and a tip for under $15. Great flavor, fast service. read more

Ordered Spinach Borek (Spinach Pie) to go at lunch time. I've been going to Black Sea less and less, because invariably the fries were cold or the rice was cold, etc etc. I thought, "give them one more chance." My mistake. The spinach pie was cold and tasted like it had been made three days ago. Never going back. read more

This place is a staple! I didn't know I had a thing for Turkish food until I came here. Once I moved on campus people mentioned that this was the place to go since it was close to school and the prices were reasonable. I enjoy going here because the restaurant is homey, clean, the servers are polite and attentive, but most importantly the food is healthy and delicious. I always get my personal favorite the #23! A Doner Kebab for $8.35 which has thin slices of seasoned beef and lamb doner. You can get it with rice, fries or pita bread. I choose to eliminate the pita and fries and just get the rice. Other times, I eliminate the all the carbs and just get extra salad instead. Either was is always good and I tend to ask for olives on the side. If you are into sharing I would suggest getting the Black Sea Combination for 2: Beef and Chicken Kebab with rice and salad. It is HUGE and goes a long way and is just as delicious ;-) Don't forget to try their lemonade, it is simple and refreshing. read more

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Black Sea is a cozy, tasty, always-hopping hole-in-the-wall Turkish restaurant in the Como neighborhood. The restaurant has only a few tables for dine-in guests, and there always seems to be a ton of people crammed into the small space - testament to the quality, I suppose. If you're coming with a large group, you can't bank on having a table available. But if you're just coming by yourself or with one other person, your odds aren't too bad. They also do a lot of takeout business, if you just want the food itself. And want it you should, since it's delicious. My favorite is the Black Sea Combination, which gives a nice sampler of many of the menu items. The meats are all savory and flavorful, the salad and veggies are refreshing, and the portion sizes are large and filling. Prices are pretty reasonable, too. So if you're craving Turkish food, come support this delightful little local business - and enjoy a tasty meal while you're at it. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - The Black Sea Combination is delicious and comes with a lot of variety - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

My buddy and I had tix to a show at the Turf Club on a Friday night and we wanted to grab something that was quick, easy, tasty and inexpensive. The Black Sea delivered on all fronts. Think greasy spoon, that's small, intimate, a teeny bit more upscale, and not at all greasy. Service is awesome, attentive and friendly. The perfect place if you are a party of two. We did: Black Sea Meze - a nice appetizer of olives, feta cheese, humus and pita bread. We probably didn't need it but we ate it anyway. Black Sea Donor - Your standard gyro sandwich. The fries were a perfect, thin, Mickey D style and the cucumber sauce and spicy sauce you can add yourself were excellent. My buddy had a soda, I did the tea which as soon as I was finished with my first, they brought another. Without including the tip, our bill was under $20. It was the perfect meal that gave sustenance yet was also light enough that we could go enjoy our night of rock-n-roll. read more

Black Sea Restaurant has excellent food. I especially love their gyros. Would definitely recommend!

Yummy in my tummy! Love this joint for gyros and Turkish tea! Lots of food for under $10. Doesn't disappoint ever! read more

Black Sea Restaurant - 24-b Spicy Chicken Doner - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Great place! They're consistent and dependable, and that's a big deal when you're looking for a place for a quick lunch. The decor is early dorm rat and you don't have to pay extra for the funk. What you do pay for (at very reasonable prices) is a fresh and wholesome version of good-old Greek food prepared by the original inventors of Greek food--THE TURKS! Take that, infidel! Four stars. One star taken away for the small, cramped space, but that can be a good thing if you're with someone you want to cuddle! read more

Was disappointed after all the good reviews. The food was so-so. The eggplant was totally saturated with oil--should have been a treat but we did not finish it read more

Small space but food is big on freshness and taste. I would recommend to others and will go back.

Not the best Middle Eastern food I've had. But it wasn't bad. From the reviews, I really was expecting this was going to be an excellent restaurant. But it was just 'Ok.' Fries were tastey. Meat was not well seasoned. Veggies were extremely oily. read more

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Anyone who knows me will tell you I heart trying new places, experiencing new drinks, and seeing what different cities have to offer. Anyone who knows me will also tell you, that i've NEVER tried turkish food....until now! I have to admit, a new obession has formed. Despite my never having turkish food, I was surprised by/enjoyed the following: 1.The coziness of this tiny restaurant. With a capacity max of about 25 people, it's small yet big enough to fit a group, which they accomodate :) 2. The decor. I found myself surrounded by authentic turkish decorations, turkish eye designs (which ward off evil), beautiful scarves, with real turkish music playing :) 3.The staff =awesome! Originally from Turkey, the owners are down to earth, authentic, and exude perfection in bringing their culture to Minnesota. 4. The food. oh my god. so good. My sister, cousin and I decided to split the sampler platter which came with: rice, pitas, lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, beef, falafel, and more. The spices were perfect in not being too hot, and not too mild, while the meats were lean cuts and fresh. all i can say is YUM-O! Don't forget to try the turkish Lemonade....sweet and homemade!! All in all, i will DEF return on my next trip to Minnesota and look foward to sampling more yummies on the menu :) job well done black sea! :) read more

excellent food, excellent people! Ali is the man! I used to live above Mirror of Korea in the late 1990s, and we would visit Ali pretty much on a daily basis. He had the BEST food, for ridiculously low prices. I was in college at the time and we were pretty heavy partiers, and Ali would tell us to bring our beer to drink in his restaurant even though he was a non-drinker haha! He also hired my half-Irish half-East Indian roomate Bruce, because he looked Turkish LOL. Thumbs up for my man Ali! read more

Limited seating. Sitting at high tables near front door can be extremely tight.You will likely be bumpin elbows with folks seated behind you. We got Black sea doner with fries and spicy kofte kebab. Black sea doner come with both beef and lamb. It is pretty substantial for under $6. The pita was stuffed with meat. The yogurt sauce it came with provided nice cool/freshness to the rich and heavy meat. The spicy kofte was SUPER flavorful. It reminded me of some form of siracha and chinese chili sauce. It came with sauté veggies and choice of rice or fries. Less meat but more spice than the doner. For under $9, definitely should try. Owner and the server were SUPER nice. Very quick to provide water, sauce, etc. Prices are very reasonable for the portion. They seem to have a lot of regulars given that most of the people seated seem to know the owner. I heard they are expanding to other nearly cities. Will be back to try other plates. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Black sea doner (lamb and beef with lettuce, tomatoes and onions stuffed in pita bread) with fries. - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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For seven years, Black Sea has been my go-to for amazing, delicious, inexpensive, healthy, abundant and authentic food whenever I want to treat myself. I fondly remember the days when the lovely original owners (now run by their nephews, I believe) would greet each and every customer, and treat us all like family. If I ran a dollar short, they'd just tell me to bring it in next time... Amazing! Nothing has changed! Still the same authentic recipes, quantity and quality that I remember from Ali and Sema. Delicious and delightful. The falafel are not to be missed, and the egg/spinach/pastry is out of this world! Great, now I've talked myself into walking over there for lunch! Yum! Guess I'll be race-walking... read more

This is a small Turkish restaurant near by Hamline University and family operated business. It started by Ali and moved on by Tolga. They have been serving the same quality food successfully since 2003-2004. I usually order , starting with a delicious lentil soup, continue with a Turkish salad, then Black Sea Special and finish with homemade baklava and Turkish Coffee. If I have some time left, I might even look at my coffee fortune. Always prompt service! Very reasonable prices. read more

Black Sea Restaurant - Fantastic Turkish Tea! - Turkish Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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This is one of those places where you eat your lunch and leave so the next people coming in can have a place to sit. There's limited space but it doesn't stop the kitchen from producing some pretty satisfying Doner sandwiches, falafel, and kebab platters. Mixed Doner (gyro) was tasty and stuffed full of lamb, beef, and chicken. The service was fast. The only drawback was having a seat in the back close to the fridge/storage/back area. Unfortunately, someone decided to mop the floor in that area and all I could smell were strong cleaning chemicals while I waited for my lunch.. not very appetizing. Thankfully the smell faded away before I started eating my delicious sandwich. The menu has a nice selection to choose from and prices are so cheap! Definitely will come back again. FYI they are closed on Sundays. read more

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