Listen listen listen.... I get around okay? And rarely do I see a person work as hard as I saw "the" man working here. Never met him, didnt know a thing about him, yet knew immediately he was the owner. He was passionate, busting his butt. You could see it, feel it. Green flag #1. Green flag #2, Superrrr clean, water available, very fresh food. If you get a gyro, they grill the outside and it is just perfection. If youre in a rush I guess you can get rawdog the pita but nah, the grill changes it. Doesn't matter what meat you get, its all delicious. Personally am a lamb/beef gal but their chicken (kind coworker gave me a bite) was so well-seasoned, I dont think you can go wrong here. And the tzatziki is KILLER, I could eat a bucket of it!! Will continue my research, but as of right now, am fairly certain that if not the best ive had, top 3 for sure, and im old. What a Millbrae gem, makes Nick the Greek look like gas statition gyros, the juxtaposition is so drast you should just come and try CI. Nom! read more

Been meaning to try this place for a while. Finally did, and I was whelmed. The place is clean and run by the owners. They work hard, you can tell. Service was brisk, but not necessarily rude. I ordered a falafel app, tzatziki dip, and lamb beef gyro wrap. Everything smelled delicious...but everything tasted bland. The falafels were under salted, the tzatziki tasted more like Greek yogurt than tzatziki. The gyro wrap was fine. Really, nothing more else to say. read more

This is a very good place to eat. I had the beef kabob plate and my wife had the chicken kabob plate. The restaurant is very clean and you order at the counter. The meal was very tasty and a good portion of food. We will eat there again when we are in Millbrae. read more

Quick service and great taste , found this place in my maps and decided to give it a try. Getting there is easy and the service is excellent read more

Cafe Istanbul - Combo chicken and beef - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

I'll have to give this another try to see if it deserves more than an average 3 stars. I'm a big fan of adanas so I was eager to try the adana plate. Sadly I got the chicken kebab by mistake and when I asked about it, the owner was very nice and told me to keep what I got and she'd ask the kitchen to make me the proper order. I was a little tight on time today but decided to accept since she was so nice. Cafe Istanbul is a little hard to find because the store front is actually on the outside facing out of the plaza so when I first circled around inside, I could not figure out where it was located. That whole plaza is poorly designed with the InNout clogging up traffic constantly. The restaurant itself was large and with casual seating. Although it was very quiet around 5 on a Thursday, food took 20 minutes to arrive and then because of my order mixup, it took a little longer than that for the right order to come out. As for the food itself, it tasted pretty standard. I'm not a fan of chicken kebab as it's usually breast meat. The adana here is on the salty side and a little tough. I've had some really tender and juicy adanas elsewhere. Maybe things were not aligned today but I'd be willing to come back for another try since the owner was so nice. I did see someone order the appetizer combo for dining in and the presentation looked awesome. I'll have to give that a try. The wraps look like they'd be a pretty good value but some of the reviews said there isn't too much meat wrapped... $22 Adana (lamb) plate comes with rice, salad, hummus and pita read more

Cafe Istanbul - Adana plate $22 - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while and it did not disappoint. I ordered the chicken kebab and it was nicely seasoned, juicy and perfectly cooked. It came with a side of Delicious rice, a fresh salad, pita slices, 2 sauces and hummus. Unfortunately, when I ordered through DoorDash, the order didn't go through, so I just showed up. I gotta say, they have a nice outside eating area as well as an inside dining area. If I could've stayed, I would've ate outside, considering how nice the weather was. But, I had to get back to work. This establishment is really clean, service is friendly in the food came out a short time after ordering. I'm definitely coming back soon. read more

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Everything was great. We ate are food to quickly so no pics :( but it was really good and service was great. Very attentive. We were there near closing and there was some customers that came in as they closed and they weren't turned away but welcomed in. Was nice friendly environment. Was surprised by a tea at the end of our meal. Sadly we were just driving by and don't live in this area but if we need to come by this way again we will be back! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

I walked over to this restaurant from the hospital on Trousdale Avenue. Although not too bad, I dont think it was worth the walk. I ordered a Sheperd's salad with a side of lamb and beef protein. The salad was pretty good. The meat however was overcooked and very greasy. Although I can't be certain it seemed like it was on the flame for a very very long time. The sauces they gave were good. The staff was friendly and prompt. The restaurant itself was clean and appealing. However it was pretty much empty when I went there (around 1 pm). read more

We totally enjoyed everything. The falafel is the best, & we've tried a lot. The Kefte was an unusual shape and was medium-rare & juicy. The hummus was a little too thick for my taste, but still good. The Beef/lamb was tasty and crispy. The best thing of all was the lentil soup! read more

Food was delicious Ask for extra sauce! I'm not much of a tap water fan so I might skip that but I love their wraps. Service was amazing the people are so nice and helpful Ambiance is clean and spacious with a side of serene outside read more

Best meal I've had in a long time. Great decor, spotlessly clean, and quick, friendly service. But the reason to go is the food. I got the gyro plate. Comes with gyro meat, hummus, salad with dressing, and hot sauce. Literally every bite was spot on. Everything was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be coming back. read more

Cafe Istanbul - My delicious lunch. - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

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Beautiful place with delicious food. Their lentil soup is top notch. I also like the wraps here.

Came in for lunch time on a Saturday afternoon and it took 25 minutes to get my food. I ordered the beef/lamb wrap and the portions seen smaller than usual. The meat was a little dry and wasn't as fresh as previous experiences. I really liked this place - not sure if I'll be back. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

Unassuming little cafe at the side of the food plaza that we actually missed it the first time. Had to back track and glad we did! It's a fast food that serves gyros and kabobs. Perfect for when you just need to order, eat and run. Or just order to go! We literally ran out of the cafe that i actually left my purse behind. The wait staff was nice enough to run after us to the parking lot to let us know. Oh yes, the food! My nephew ordered the lamb and beef wrap that came with French fries while I ordered the Kofte platter. The wrap was cooked right and was juicy. The Kofte included humus with pita bread, salad and rice. I thought it was too much for me but I finished about 90% of it. I particularly liked the salad with pickled onions. That was refreshing! I was glad we tried it out. It was just 7 minutes from our hotel that made it very convenient. read more

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Chicken gyros wrap.. smell bad second time.. idk why? I cant eat it and trow away. But fries good! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Chicken Gyro Wrap (Full Tray) - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

The food at Cafe Istanbul was super fresh and delicious. We ordered the combo gyro plate and falafel plate. Both came with generous portions of main, rice, hummus, salad, and pita bread. The staff were so kind to us and even gave us extra complimentary bread when we devoured ours. The restaurant was very clean and service was wonderful. Don't skip the garlic and pepper sauces if you enjoy extra spice! read more

I got the chicken wrap. Really not good. If there was sauce it was just the red sauce and maybe a little bit of yogurt. Other than the sauce it is basically just chicken with raw lettuce, tomato, and red onion for vegetables. Out of the vegetables, there were hardly any. The flavor of the chicken was not that appetizing and didn't pair well with the raw vegetables. I think raw onions work when there are better flavors to work with it, (I have had good Mediterranean wraps and burritos that had raw onions), but here it was extra unappetizing. As you can see from the picture, the tortilla they use is folded and wrinkled, showing that the amount of fillings is not that much. I think they just use a tortilla and not some special Mediterranean flat bread, not great for this type of wrap. They give you a small bag of fries on the side as well, but this is not game changing by any means. I think it is there to try to make up for what is lacking elsewhere. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Chicken Gyros Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

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Amazing food and outstanding service! This cozy, family owned spot has such a warm, relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The portions are generous, definitely enough for leftovers to take home and everything is reasonably priced. Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious! The service truly stands out: welcoming, attentive, and always delivered with a genuine smile and big heart This is officially a new go-to takeout spot in my rotation. A must-try! read more

This place just opened up about a week ago. My boss wanted to try them so we did. We got a couple of: Lamb and Beef gyro wraps - I liked the best but can definitely use more meat. But I get it they're still new. Chicken wrap - a little too dry but after some sauce it's good to go. Hummus - decent French fries - nice and crispy and used their sauce to dip with. Overall the place was clean. Plenty of tables and chairs to eat. Has a bathroom. The lady that helped me looked like one of owners and was really nice and friendly. read more

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This place is truly amazing. I've been a big fan of mediterranean food for years, and I actually think this may be the best i've ever had. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Beef and lamb gyro with fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

This place is definitely worth leaving a review. Had an amazing experience. Food was outstanding and great size portions. The service was very friendly and on point. The ambiance was very welcoming and neat. Will be coming back! Thank you Cafe Istanbul for a wonderful experience. read more

Fresh and delicious!! The food was amazing and the employees went above and beyond! I will be back!

I just had an other great lunch köfte warped yummy going to be my regular place . A flavor you absolutely must try.

Wow! Real steak lamb beef kebab . Not the cheap mixture you usually see at other places . 100% best kebab I've had in the Bay Area . Thanks for the sample ;) see ya soon ! read more

Dissapointing. i ordered a beef/lamb plate. The food was salty, the rice wasn't authentic middle eastern style such as basmati. The salad was extremely boring, the hummus was bland and the pita bread felt like it was frozen and store bought and they just toasted it. It felt like an identity crisis. If you want authentic middle eastern food look elsewhere. Only positive thing about this place was the employees. Very kind and welcoming. Just ashame the food was mediocre at best. Very disappointed and unfortunately I will not be a repeat customer. Such a shame because I really wanted to like this place. read more

Fabulous! Wonderful atmosphere, and spotless. Delicious food, vegetarian friendly. Presentation is amazing. They have a variety of food choices, and are all fresh. It's a good spot for families, and we will definitely return to try more of their dishes. I recommend to everybody. Thank you for your amazing service read more

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The food is absolutely delicious and high quality, and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. I had a great experience, and the Mediterranean dishes are truly amazing with awesome service. I will definitely be back again to try their other dishes. read more

Absolutely phenomenal food at this hidden gem right across from the Lucid Studio. The lamb and gyro are unlike anything I've ever had before...almost like eating cuts of steak with a perfect combination of fat and seared crispy bits that's difficult to describe. I simply couldn't get enough! The rice and hummus were also delicious companions to the main dish. Don't miss the crispy cheese rolls - they're delightfully simple and so tasty. Strongly recommend these as a starter. Everything about this place hits the mark. Portion size is absolutely on point, the place is clean, and the atmosphere is great. The incredibly kind owner even put out a little bowl of water for my pup! If you're in the area, just go. You won't regret it. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

First time and I had a great meal and service I will definitely be back for other menu items to try

The food was delicious the kofta I ordered was delicious and one of my friends ordered the chicken kebab it was delicious . The service is amazing Nina was great friendly and amazing The Ambiance was really comfortable the place is clean and very organized read more

The food was well coked, interior is clean including bathroom, and service was good as well, but the portion of food was small for the price. In other Turkish restaurants I've been to I had enough portion for the paid comparably lower price, here I paid 30$ including tip and wasn't pleased fully with my experience. Good luck) read more

This place is the real deal! Great food, friendly staff and always consistent! I always look forward to coming here, and I do so often! I haven't tried anything that wasn't top notch ! You will not be disappointed ! read more

The Chicken Wrap was SO good! The flavors were amazing and the service was great. The vibe here is great it is so clean. I would definitely come here again! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

We stumbled upon this place looking for a quick stop after leaving the airport. The food was very fresh and yummy! I got the kofte wrap for myself and the lamb/beef gyro plate for my family. Everything was delicious, but the portion seemed small. The service was friendly and the food came out quickly. Overall, the restaurant was bright and airy (with the doors open; although there were a few flies that came in). Would probably come back because I love Mediterranean food. But, would love a bigger portion. read more

Great service, clean and friendly. The Falafel wrap was exquisite!!! Loved every bite of my wrap, it was fresh and flavorful. We also had the chicken and lamb plate and this was also done very well. Definitely recommend Cafe Istanbul. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Falafel wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

We had very delicious food and really and enjoyed this family owned cafe. The food was amazing all around. We had the lamb and gyro plate and everything was so fresh. The pita bread was also very crispy and soft in the middle. The chocolate cake was really tasty and the perfect dessert with tea. The cafe is also very clean and well kept along with friendly service. We plan on coming more often!! read more

Had the Lamb Beef wrap. Not good at all. No flavor. Fries bland. The sauce for wrap had no flavor. I had to use Ranch dressing for flavor for the beef lamb wrap. read more

We ordered food take out for a celebration. The portion wasn't enough for 6 people. After almost $200 bill. Feeling the price didn't match with the portion. We were still hungry. It's our first time order food from them. My husband grew up with Mediterranean food. He prefer the previous owner which more authentic with reasonable price. This place we probably won't go back again. read more

Ordered today first time the Falafel Wrap, very delicious very fresh... good amount of food I'm stuffed. Will be returning. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Falafel wrap! Very delicious and filling. - Mediterranean Near Me - Millbrae, California

Kebab or doner kebab is not good, they can't make it, they cook with a sour face, I will definitely not go again.