We chose Cafe Istanbul for the location of my mother-in-law's low-key 70th birthday celebration. Service was attentive and our meze themed meal was lovely. The baba ghanoush has a unique flavor that I really enjoyed - more creamy than other places serve. I also really enjoyed my lentil soup. For our group of 5, two mixed meze appetizers plus lentil soup around would have been plenty of food. Half of us got pizza instead of the lentil soup. Turkish wines were great to try. Try out their patio for a nice night out. read more

Great service. Greeted and seated right away. Was offered a taste / sample of wine before we ordered a bottle. Had the lavash and Haydari to start. Delicious! Ate it all! The chicken with the eggplant pure was amazing. Very rich and well seasoned. The whole fish was amazing... Great experience. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Hunkar Begendi with grilled chicken - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

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A wonderful, elegant-yet-cozy Turkish restaurant within Legacy North with attentive service, decent portions, and delicious food. We arrived as a party of five on a medium-busy Sunday evening. The tables were a reasonable distance apart, and the noise level was also fair. The food was delicious. Having not experienced authentic Turkish food before, the mention of authenticity made my group eager to give Cafe Istanbul a try. Ordering was painless and easy. There are entrees for individual meals and easy options for groups to share family-style, which we opted for. We ordered an appetizer platter with beef meatball, baba ganoush, hummus, and phyllo borek (ground beef with spices and onions inside a deep-fried phyllo wrapper). It was a bit odd that there were different amounts of each (2 meatball, 4 phyllo borek, and dollops of baba ganoush and hummus were only enough to get a small taste each) but it was balanced out by the portion size of the entree. For the entree, we opted for the mixed grill plate to share. It had chicken shish kebab, lamb kebab, adana kebab (ground lamb, pepper, and spices), grilled chicken wings, and chicken beyti (ground chicken and spices, grilled). This was served with rice and red cabbage on the side. Individually, each amount seemed small, but given that this plate was meant for two, we were still pleasantly full after polishing this off. Everything was well seasoned. The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked. I'd especially recommend the chicken beyti. The here service was swift and outstanding. We were quickly offered menus, waters, and utensils. Our waters were refilled quickly, and the kitchen took our request to plate the lamb separately in stride. The moment after my fork fell to the ground, a member of their serving staff swooped to fetch it (it was behind my chair) while another brought me a new one. It was a very well-rehearsed dance. Worth mentioning is also the fact that there were two separate groups dining that evening (a large family, and a group of friends) to celebrate a birthday. This is a restaurant worthy of birthday celebrations :) Overall, the portions are decent and filling, the food is delicious, and the service is exceptional. Consider visiting this restaurant next time you're in the area; you'll be glad that you did! read more

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Paid $32 for a shish kebab that was one tiny skewer of overcooked lamb, a small scoop of rice, and mostly raw veggies that were supposed to be grilled and include asparagus (they didn't). The bag felt so light I checked it before leaving and immediately knew I'd been ripped off. They didn't even start my order until I arrived, and when I questioned the portion size, the owner came outside to confront me instead of making it right. Bad food, tiny portions, and worse service. Won't be back. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Gluten Free Shish Kebab and grilled veggies - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

I love this place. The food is solid - I usually get chicken kebabs for lunch. Turkish tea on the side is nice and light and enjoyable. The big puffy bread they bring to the table is fun, fresh, and yummy. The ambiance is pretty perfect, including a great little patio. The baklava is a MUST HAVE for dessert - or if you're just in the area and want some Turkish tea and a delicious snack. While I'm not a coffee guy, folks who are swear by the Turkish coffee, which comes in a little bitty cup, like a shot glass. High octane. Service is the only spotty part of the experience. It can be top notch or it can be... spotty! We've been forgetten or simply not checked on often enough a few times. But the food is consistently excellent! read more

It is hard to find good Turkish food in the US. Especially in the middle of the country. It was a surprise to see Cafe Istanbul on Yelp. Very friendly service, good prices, and delicious Turkish food. Started with the fresh from the oven Lavash bread. Tried the amazing "spicy" or "ezme" as it is originally named. Then a great finish with İskender kebap. Highly recommended. The food was some of the most authentic Turkish cuisine I've had outside of Turkey. The lavash bread was lightly charred on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. It was the perfect vessel to scoop up the ezme, which was a delicious blend of tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices. The heat was subtle and built nicely, allowing the other flavors to shine through. For the main dish, the iskender kebab did not disappoint. Thinly sliced lamb was cooked to tender perfection and laid over slices of pita. It was then topped with a tangy tomato sauce and melted butter. Each bite was a revelatory mix of flavors and textures. The portion was also quite generous. In addition to the outstanding food, the staff provided excellent and friendly service. They were knowledgeable about the menu items and happy to provide recommendations. It was refreshing to find such high quality Turkish cuisine in an unexpected location in the middle of the country. I will definitely be returning next time I'm craving authentic flavors from that part of the world. Cafe Istanbul should not be missed if you find yourself in the area. . read more

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Love this place! Most authentic Turkish food around. After spending time in Turkey, it's by far our favorite type of food and this restaurant does it justice. read more

First time trying and it was really good! The portions were just right and service was great. Came on a Sunday evening and it wasn't too busy. We sat in the patio but indoor looked nice too. Definitely want to come back to try more of their dishes! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Istanbul Doner - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

Wow! This place exceeded my expectations. They have wonderful lavash bread hot and fresh! The baba ganoush was excellent. We scooped up every last bit with the hot bread. The mixed grill for two is more than enough to satisfy. The grilled flavor was absolutely to die for and you can taste the quality in the meats. Will be returning read more

This place is incredible and features very authentic Turkish cuisine. I asked the waitress what was one of the most authentic Turkish items on the menu, and she recommended the Bursa Iskender (seasoned ground lamb in a delicious red tomato-butter sauce with yogurt and a pita on the side). Their cheese-filled rolls were great, as were their Turkish cherry and apricot juices - which I never had before. Their bread (more of a pita) was also very unique and can be dipped in the Iskender tomato-butter sauce. Moreover, the dessert of the Turkish flan was amazing - if you finish it all off with the tea you will be in paradise. Service was also prompt and very attentive. The interior decor is also awesome, featuring many cool Turkish artifacts and designs, plus a cartoon caricature doll of a chef I was told was Turkish somehow but I'm not sure if it was just a random cartoon character. Highly, highly recommended! Especially if you are searching for authentic Turkish cuisine! read more

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Pro tip: check into Yelp for free hummus and thank me later! It was my first time here and the food was hot and fresh, the service was fantastic and I left feeling full but not heavy. I am not super familiar with Turkish food so trying a little bit of everything was great. My favorite was the gyro looking meat and the lamb chops. Wish there were more sauce varieties with the meats but besides that, I had a wonderful meal and can't wait to come back. read more

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This place is great, the food quality is fantastic, the service was great and it's a nice ambiance and decorated well. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mixed grill - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

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First of all, nice & welcoming staff - our server seemed to be from Turkey. In our conversation, he mentioned that he is from Taksim in Istanbul. We had gone for a 12 day trip to Turkey last year and had fond memories of the Doners and Kababs we had during our stay. We had booked through Google and were seated immediately on arrival (Even though it was a Saturday night, the place was not packed - maybe because our dinner slot was 8:15 PM) As for ambiance and decor, they had handicrafts from Turkey - the evil eye, brassware, wall hangings - it did give the Turkish touch. Onto food - they give you Lavash which is the Turkish bread - the menu says it is just 1 per order. We had 4 in all across 6 of us and were not charged extra. Plating is nicely done, food is also delicious - we had Chicken Sautee, Appetizer platter, Chicken Shish Kabab and Chicken Beyti. The Baba Ganoush was a stand out - was fresh and delicious. Next best was the Shish Kabab and then would be the Sautee & Beyti. They charge 20% for a group which is a fairly steep $ number considering that their dishes are $$, that is the only thing that hit us!! I guess it is a practice that is followed across all the restaurants in Legacy North.. read more

Great service and food. 10/10 recommend. Hummus and iskander is more flavorful than any other food I've ever had.

This was my second time at Cafe Istanbul, and honestly, I ordered the same thing both times. The friend I went with said it was very authentic (his grandma is from (Turkey!), so I'll take his word for it. Excellent service, tasty food, and nice location. read more

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We were cruising and perusing The Shops at Legacy for a restaurant to partake of our lite evening snack and came across Cafe Istanbul. I very seldom give a venue 5 stars on my first visit but I was totally impressed with the service, atmosphere and most importantly, the delectable delights. To set the gastric juices in motion, we started off with Old Fashioneds. Whilst waiting for the main course, we enjoyed the Turkish Lavash bread along with the Shepherd Salad, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, dill, and parsley served with olive oil and red wine vinegar. My main course was the Lamb Sauté lamb sautéed with green peppers, red peppers, onions, tomtoes, garlic and soy sauce, served with rice pilaf and the Selendi Cabernet Sauvignon paired very with the lamb. And last but certainly not least was the dessert, Kunefe, prepared with shredded wheat and Turkish sweet cheese, baked and served on a hot plate, topped with syrup and chopped pistachios. Our server Gursel was excellent. A Turkish coffee and snifter of Amaretto brought our absolutely magnificent culinary experience to a delightful end. read more

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I am Greek. I am in Beverly Hills and I happen to see across the street from me. The restaurant called café Istanbul.. first of all looks beautiful from the outside beautiful from the inside and the staff is very welcoming and kind. As a Greek, who recognizes the love that the Greeks had between the Turks, of course I wanted to eat their immediately because I knew that they would have the food that I would love and I was right . The quality of the food and the service is excellent. I especially want to name my server Berkan for his superior service hats off to this restaurant. I will send everyone that I know here thank you so much. read more

Authentic food, authentic people. We went the Saturday before my birthday, also Valentine's Day, also the Super Bowl. I'd never heard of this place, but it had great reviews and a table, so I made last minute reservations. I headed there with my partner for 5:30 reservations. Parking was easy at that time, though when we left close to 7, it was B U S Y. We were offered two tables and chose the one behind a tiny wall behind the host station. It was private and protected from the door opening. Our server was Memet, who informed us he was Turkish when we asked for appetizer recommendations. Outside of our normal preferences we ordered what he recommended. Everything that came out was delicious. The sausage appetizer was very good but it is essentially four small slices of a sausage. The felon love in Istanbul cocktail was fine but not memorable. If you like the licorice flavors of Ouzo order the Raki. It is very very very very very strong. Have a designated driver! We sipped and shared half and were done. My husband had the Istanbul doner (doner meat is gyro meat). It was too tomatoey for me and my husband devoured it. I had the Kuzu Incik / Lamb Shank (Shank of lamb, slowly cooked and braised with its seasoned broth. Served on a bed of mashed grilled eggplant, red bell pepper mix with mashed potatoes and topped with tomato sauce). You Guys. First off, I didn't realize it was mashed grilled eggplant until he told me after one bite he couldn't get past that--it was amazing. Next, that lamb was tender and juicy -- perfectly cooked! We finished it off with Baklava (don't ask how we had room--that's rude!). It was good as well, served cut into 4 little squares. Overall a lovely evening, lovely service, lovely company. The owner/manager/bartender was on his feet all night pitching in and actively involved in the restaurant which made the whole experience that much more authentic. read more

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Now this is a great Turkish restaurant. Great food and service. Excellent table bread and don't charge for things like bread and water like some other place nearby. We ordered the meat platter and everything was seasoned great and cooked perfectly. The vibe and ambiance is also great. Clean, and attentive service. Look forward to my next visit! Highly recommend! read more

We ended up here by default as we were going to get drinks and a light lunch but decided we'd try this Turkish restaurant. We went on a Friday around 3 pm so the place was pretty empty but we were immediately greeted. We wanted to sit outside (it was a little chilly) but were told there was no gas available for the outdoor heaters. No biggie! We were seated inside by the wall since it was two of us dining. The server was nice and the menu was pretty easy to maneuver around. I forgot the name of my drink but it was a martini with mango and was very refreshing. My honey and I ordered the Babaganoush and Spicy tomato blend for our bread. *chefs kiss*. It was literally the perfect combination to start off with. I would definitely suggest trying both. And the Spicy was just that! Lol Entrees: we asked the waiter what he would suggest and of course it was the most expensive thing on the menu. I mean we understood it but thought it was a bit tacky but weren't turned off by it the least bit. We ordered the lamb shish kebab and the chicken shish kebab. If I came back, I would order the lamb. It was much better seasoned and was very tender. It was served with rice and grilled tomatoes and peppers, which I enjoyed! Service was good and the restrooms were clean. Our overall experience was a 4 out of 5 stars. I'm giving it 4 just off the strength that the food could've been a little more seasoned but I'd definitely go back! And the timing was perfect! So if you're looking for a quaint lunch/early dinner dining experience that won't leave you full yet satisfied this is your place! read more

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I'm from New York, and came here with a group of 3. I got to say, I really liked the fresh baked pillowy bread, but not much else. They honored the humus Yelp deal but I thought it was not as creamy as I would have liked it. Trying bits of food from my friend's dishes were just fine and I had the kunefe as well, and it was good because it's a kunefe but the worst one I've had. It didn't have enough of the cheese and wasn't very hot. We got the merlot blend bottle of red wine per the staff suggestion, and it was not my liking either. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Kunefe - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

Great authentic Turkish food, service and atmosphere. Recommend you check them out. We have enjoyed both lunch and dinner here.

We came in on a Saturday evening - be sure to make reservations as this place definitely gets busy! We were seated right away as we did have reservations. Once seated, it did take some time to get addressed by our waiter. He was a kind gentleman, but unfortunately, English was not his strong suit. I had asked him if wine is re-corked (if a bottle is not finished) and he wasn't quite understanding, just acknowledging that they have Turkish wine. After some struggles there, I decided to get a glass instead of a bottle. Sadly, my first two picks, they were out. He even noted that the prices on the menu were incorrect, adding about $4 to the glass price and $10 to the bottle price. This to me is not acceptable and a bit of false advertising by upping the price when ordering. If this is truly the new price, please reprint the menus. As for the lavash bread, it does come out fresh and is delicious. Sadly, we noticed that some folks got a second piece (without asking and saying oh, we didn't want another/don't want to pay, and the place acknowledging, oh this is on us). This seemed a bit unfair to us. We even ordered two apps (humus and spicy), yet no bread came with these - again, a bit absurd in my opinion. Food-wise (the entrees), delicious. We tried the chicken beyti, chicken shish kabob, and lamb shish kabob - all on point. It does not seem like you can go wrong with food here. However, service, menu prices, and wine selection all seem hit or miss/iffy. This complicates how I truly feel about this place as food - excellent, service - slow, and simply special treatment for some while not others and the lack of bread for apps such as humus to me is crazy! Are we suppose to spoon feed the humus to ourselves? I guess, save on carbs? If it is your birthday, they do give you a free dessert. We got their chocolate dessert once we told (who I believe is) the owner. Unfortunately, when we asked our waiter if there is anything special for birthdays in the house, he nodded and walked off. We weren't sure what that meant so we waited about 10 minutes and then were able to capture the owner's attention and he was like oh, of course and immediately brought something out. I tried to be patient with our waiter as he was extremely nice, but I hope this place tries to do a little more training so questions of are there daily specials, can you re-cork unfinished bottles, etc. are answered. read more

Came for lunch on a Saturday. The food was delicious but the service was kind of slow despite the restaurant being almost empty. Check in on Yelp to get a complimentary humus. (Which was delicious) Also ordered the Turkish Feta which was a much smaller portion than previously pictured on this app. The first lavash is complimentary- afterwards it's 2.50 each. But it was delicious and freshly made. The Adana kebab was tasty but the plate came to us at room temperature/cool. My boyfriend ordered the vegetarian hunkar begendi and loved it. Falafel was done well and loved the bed of eggplant purée that it was served with. Everything was spiced well and gorgeously presented. We just wished that our entrees was served to us warm. read more

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Went here after seeing it on TikTok. I enjoyed the lamb chops and Turkish red wine. Service was definitely Top Tier...will definitely come back to explore more of the menu. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Plano! They serve authentic Turkish food and the staff is amazing. read more

If I could give less than a 1 star I would. First off the service is very rude and even sexist, not only did they ignore me but, only spoke to my husband and even complimented how "built" he was referring to his muscles. When they did speak to me it was beyond degrading and spoke down to me as if I was a child and acted like I was stupid. They didn't even know was paying (me...)I'm also a server and would never treat someone that way. I have never left a resturant crying because they made me feel so embarrassed and stupid. All I got was the salad, on the menu it says GRILLED chicken not marinated in Tabasco hot sauce. Which I was told the chicken is not spicy. I have tastebuds. Also said dressed with lemon juice and olive oil, not with a side of ranch? Not only was the food terrible but the service was even worse. Don't waste your time or money. read more

Lovely mix of kebabs, gyro, steak and chicken. Pickled onions, spicy sauce and yogurt sauce. The flat bread is light crispy and slightly chewy bread great to dip hummus and wrap meat. The decor was very nice and we were spaced out and sat by the wall. Evil eye hanging decor all over the walls. Great place to dine as couple, friends and even saw family with small kids. The baklava was perfect portion and ending to a meal. You want something different try this place, very quaint. You want to try everything on their menu. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Dinner for two - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

Food is delicious! The spices and combination are perfect. The service was on point. Very attentive. The decoration and location of the place is very trendy. We enjoyed the meal. We always come here when we are in the area. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Doner Salata - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

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What a gem to find! This place was absolutely outstanding food wise. First off we had a reservation for 8:45 on a Saturday evening; I wasn't expecting to have to wait; but because of the cold; obviously no one sat outside to eat. I will say the way the reservations were handled and their method of getting everyone seated was a tad chaotic and my husband almost chose to leave. When the owner approached us to ask how many people we had in our party (which was 5), he made a terrible yet funny face, like oh my. That didn't settle well with my husband and his friend. Honestly I think he was just drinking at the bar earlier and then boom it got busy and he was trying to help with it all. I will admit I was annoyed because we had to wait almost 20 min before being seated with having a reservation; but I'm happy we stayed. Few moments after being seated the "rush" left; and our waiter finally arrived. I didn't catch his name but he was marvelous. Gave samples of turkish wines to our friends allowing them to actually pick the wine they liked and gave great recommendations on cocktails. His input on dishes to try were excellent. He didn't push for just the most expensive things; he recommended things he actually liked to eat. I love trying new cuisines and I'm even more happy when the people native to those cuisines wait on you because I feel you get a more honest feedback on the food and it's explained much more thorough. We started with an appetizer sampler that we chose the Turkish sausage (for an upgrade), the babaganoush, haydari, and rolled phyllo borek with cheese and meat. Everything was just fresh and delicious. I was very surprised with the babaganoush because I've had it before at Greek/Mediterranean restaurants and I never really cared for it. Here it's amazing! Their take on it is just amazing. The Turkish sausage was another surprise; it was so good we ended up ordering another order. I'm not usually a sausage fan; but this was done nicely. The best way I can describe it is that it's similar to chorizo in taste per say; but the the texture is much better than ordinary sausage. Not greasy; just yummy. We had already had our mind made up on the mixed grill; which was delicious and I loved they had an option for you to order a dish that allowed you to sample a little of everything meat wise. The lamb was by far my favorite; I get why they have so many lamb dishes; they knock it out the park. The whole fish was recommended over the shrimp sauté and man was that tasty. Perfectly prepared and our waiter was kind enough to cut it open for us to eat it. Our friends ordered the pizza; not a pizza fan normally. But theirs' was tasty mainly because of the bread. For dessert we wanted authentic; so with our waiters help we picked the first four on the menu. He explained once they arrived to start with the least sweet one and work our way to the sweetest. So we started with the rice pudding.... OMG I could eat that everyday, next was the Turkish flan, another amazing dessert, has a different taste and texture compared to Mexican flan but in the best way. The next was my absolute favorite; reminded me on Ashta that's done at Greek restaurants; but better. It's wheat and cheese somehow baked with pistachios and this amazing concoction of honey and something else drizzled on top. Literally could've eaten ten of those. Last was the baklava; my husband loves it; me not so much normally but again; theirs was really amazing. Again amazing food; nothing was disliked. Portions, presentation and price point was great. Waiter was amazing! Can't wait to come back to try all the other dishes they offer. Definitely come here. I don't say that about many places; this one I'd keep coming back to. read more

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Awesome place to go to on Friday night Food is always good. Server is very friendly & helpful. Great place to hang out with family & friends. read more

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I would give a zero but that's not an option. Very very upsetting experience. We are a regular at this restaurant and omg this is a different level. It's Mother's Day and it's busy but if you can't assist your customers why give out table. We got there at 7 and got the table. By 7:30 ordered, the food didn't arrive till 8:55 and as soon as we said we get up, they so oh your food is ready. Ok but after this long you still expect me to sit and say nothing. This is not how it works. read more

First time at this restaurant and it was nice. They were pretty busy on a Saturday night so reservations are recommended. The place has a lot of character and it's quaint. Food was good and we went there knowing that we wanted to try the platter pictured. The meat platter was filling and could easily accommodate 3 hangry people. I'd recommend and plan to come back again to try their grilled fish. read more

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We were treated here for dinner and it is in a very nice area with beautiful outside seatings which seems so nice when the weather is good. Decor inside is beautiful and it has a nice warm feeling to the place. Our server was very sweet and accommodating. The place got busy really fast and still our server was on point with us and ensuring we were okay. The food was excellent and had great flavor. My only reason to not return is the pricing. However, I heard that they do have entertainment sometimes and the place is considered a little upscale than most Turkish spots. So, the environment does add into the pricing. However, for food alone it wasn't really worth it as we have other spots with great Turkish food as well with more reasonable pricing. All in all, it was a good experience and I am sure others may like it much more than me. read more

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We all meet up for dinner at this location. Recommend by friends from Turkey that said this was as close to original as you can find. The staff was great and seamed truly happy to be there. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather and the people watching. The Turkish wines were delicious as we the meal. One lamb meal and a meat sampler for two fed 5 people very well. read more

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I was hoping to try authentic Turkish cuisine as I'm in town from Southern California. There's nothing that resembles this where I'm at it specifically for Turkish cuisine. I have Turkish penpals that have always welcomed me to Turkey, so i felt that hospitality when I ate here. Food was great. It was a good introduction to Turkish cuisine for me and a bit of the culture read more

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Not bad actually. Portions on entrees are very small but the food tastes pretty good. I liked the babaganoush the best. The filo cigars aren't bad either. Offering all lamb Adana kabob is a huge bonus. Service was outstanding on a busy Friday night. Fun decorative atmosphere. read more

Best Mediterranean food I've ever had. Everything was homemade and delicious. I had the Lamb Shishkabab and the meat was tender and flavorful. I'll be back soon! read more

Celebrated my dad's birthday with yummy food at this place. We ordered the mixed grill platter and it was delicious and juicy. Enjoyed every bite. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Mixed grill platter for 2. So delicious and tender. Loved the service and the food. - Turkish Near Me - Plano, Texas

GREAT service! great food! Loved the atmosphere and the menu options. Clean and friendly read more

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