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    Cafe Istanbul

    3.8 (33 reviews)
    ModerateTurkish
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Cafe Istanbul Photos

    CAFE ISTANBUL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Istanbul

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    Yessy M.

    How sad to see such a good spot to be overshadowed by such lousy service. the food is excellent, the decor transports you to a traditional Turkish market. But the service is the worst, too poor and unprofessional. The owner, who is the cook , is very friendly , but very busy tending the kitchen , maybe that's why he does not notice . I ask for coffee and the server warns me that its going to take 25 minutes because he's a little busy... really??? Anyways, dont expect good service, just go and eat!

    Andre G.

    LOVE THIS PLACE one of my favorites! Great service and tasty awesome food.

    Edna P.

    The best Turkish food ever. Food is clean and exquisite. Service is considerably fast. The place is small and familiar. Parking is the only problem. Overall is an excellent place and the food is simply amazing.

    Sheesh kabab chicken

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    3 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Delicious lamb gyro and tzaziki. This place came highly recommended and we enjoyed our food a lot. We will be back!

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Delicious! So glad to find Turkish options in San Juan. They even have Apple Tea. My favorite! Recommended!

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Too greasy food. Otherwise I would have given better rating. Good tea and coffee. Limited parking.

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Just the best place to eat authentic Turkish food. From the hummus to the baklava everything is perfect.

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Best mediterranean place in all Puerto Rico! The besttt baba ganoush and lamb kebab i mean everything is delicious

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Excellent authentic Turkish cuisine. Lamb gyro delicious. Affordable prices. Small place with big flavors.

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    9 years ago

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    Cafe Istanbul Reviews in Other Languages

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    Istanbul Restaurant

    Istanbul Restaurant

    4.3(186 reviews)
    11.3 km
    $$

    An unexpected stop for lunch during a cruise stop in Old San Juan, PR, the Istanbul Restaurant was…read morea combination of Turkish dishes along with dishes native to Puerto Rico. My brother and I tried dishes from both menus, and found it to be quite good. As we were walking past, a small sign for 'Grandma's Kitchen' caught our eye. My brother had been encouraging me to try Puerto Rico's national dish: Mofongo - mashed fried plantains. Unfortunately, restaurants were just packed with long waits and I wasn't in the mood to wait outside in the sun for a long time. The door next to the sign stated that it was a restaurant called 'Istanbul'. We peaked inside, and was welcomed warmly by a host, who let us know that the restaurant was both Grandma's Kitchen/Istanbul. There was nobody else dining inside, which was weird considering how every other restaurant in the area was packed. The dishes are made to order, so took a bit of time for it to come out one at a time. Mixed Seafood Stuffed Mofongo ($25) - served in a wooden pilon, the tall and narrow neck was stuffed with the mashed plantains, topped with a seafood blend of clams, dense fish pieces, octopus, and squid. The sauce was really well done, not too rich, but buttery enough to accentuate the seafood. I have to believe the seafood was prepared from frozen, but it tasted really good: a definite notch up from the seafood I've been having on the cruise boats. It was the first time having mofongo, and I liked it. This version had fried plantain chips, mixed with the mash of more plantains. I don't think this version had pork skin rinds, and I didn't miss it. It's extremely dense, so ended up eating maybe a third of it while finishing the seafood. It's a solid alternative to rice, though definitely can't eat too much of it. Doner Kebab ($18) - from the Istanbul portion of the menu, this dish was tasty, though the meat was cooked on a flat top grill like a burger patty, instead of on a vertical rotisserie. The lamb/beef patty was loosely formed and well seasoned, with the accompanying tzatziki sauce being a good add-on. Both dishes were cooked very well, the back kitchen has some skills. Service was friendly throughout. Water is not offered, but guessing they will give to you if asked. Payment was provided after the meal, and they do stick on a mandatory 15% gratuity for all party sizes.

    I love to use Yelp to find local spots when traveling; however I can't get on board with the high…read morereviews of this spot in old San Juan. The falafels were doughy and undercooked and the chicken kabobs very tough. Service was good, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. It's a little dark but clean.

    Photos
    Istanbul Restaurant - Dining room

    Dining room

    Istanbul Restaurant - Stuffed Seafood Mofongo

    Stuffed Seafood Mofongo

    Istanbul Restaurant - Virgin mojito

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    Virgin mojito

    Tierra Santa - Lamb chips with rice pilaf and salad.

    Tierra Santa

    4.0(14 reviews)
    4.3 km
    $$

    Went for Sunday late lunch with the family. The restaurant was very accommodating when we called to…read moresay we would be late for our reservation. Our waitress was very attentive to our older guests and patient! The traditional humus is outstanding. And don't get me started on the lamb chops. WOW!!! What an amazing delightful meal!!! Next time I would pass on the eggplant humus, the regular humus was way too delicious. They only have baklava for dessert and my family loved it. It was fresh and tasteful. Don't miss out on their Turkish coffee. It was yummy!!! The restaurant is clean, ambiance is more like a traditional old world place. Don't miss out! And save space for the ribs. You'll want to have seconds.

    Another hit spot on my trip to PR, my bf found this spot and it looked good. We tried to go on…read moreSaturday for the belly dancing, but we were too late since they closed at 9PM, which was surprising for a Saturday night, and had to go somewhere else. We came back on Sunday and were promptly greeted and seated right away. The staff was very friendly, and the inside was cozy with decor styled in Mediterranean. The drinks were delicious and refreshing. As for the food, we had the hummus, salad, and kebabs, all of which were very delicious. I wish we had more time to enjoy, but they were wrapping up for the night, and we didn't want to keep them. I recommend going early and not too late since they seem to stick to the closing time. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely go back for the belly dancing show. Mediterranean food in PR--who knew!

    Photos
    Tierra Santa
    Tierra Santa - Turkish coffee

    Turkish coffee

    Tierra Santa - They sell middle eastern products

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    They sell middle eastern products

    Carthage Express - Cold as ice

    Carthage Express

    4.2(89 reviews)
    11.5 km
    $

    Carthage Express in San Juan, PR was such a great find that we ended up coming back again!!! this…read moretime for breakfast. From the first visit, the food stood out as fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared, which immediately made it a place we wanted to revisit. When we returned for breakfast, it didn't disappoint. Everything was delicious, well made, and satisfying, making it the perfect start to the day. You can really tell they care about quality and consistency in their food. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive on both visits. The staff made us feel comfortable and appreciated, which added a lot to the overall experience. Carthage Express quickly became one of those spots we'd gladly return to again and recommend to anyone visiting or living in San Juan.

    Avoid this place at all costs! If you want your food to look like the tempting photos on the menu,…read moreyou'll need to ask specifically, and be prepared to pay extra. The so-called fresh orange juice is a complete misrepresentation--it's pre-bought, not squeezed in-house, and tastes just like store-bought store-brand juice. Four of us ordered breakfast, and every single plate came out cold and dry, as if it had been sitting out from yesterday. The ambiance is barely welcoming, worsened by a waitress who seems to have an excuse for every problem with the food. Can a restaurant be sued for false advertising? They display a tempting photo on the menu, then tell customers, 'If you want your French toasts just like in the picture, you need to ask for it, and it will cost extra'--ridiculous! This might just be the worst dining experience in Old San Juan... Horrible place and experience....

    Photos
    Carthage Express - Good Morning! #HaPpYMemorialDay! #GodBlessOurSoldiers! #USA

    Good Morning! #HaPpYMemorialDay! #GodBlessOurSoldiers! #USA

    Carthage Express
    Carthage Express - Touching food with no gloves

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    Touching food with no gloves

    Cafe Istanbul - turkish - Updated May 2026

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