One of my good friends brought me here for dinner and I thought the food was delicious from start…read moreto finish. We ordered more starters that we could eat, but each was cooked well and very flavorful. Our server was friendly and even treated us to coffee at the end of the meal. It wasn't cheap, but it was a fantastic evening.

From the owner: Müşkülpesent, İkinci Yeni'lerden ilham alan İkinci Yeni Lokanta.read more

We stumbled upon this gem during our last night in Istanbul. It's along a path below street level,…read moreand as a tourist, wasn't someplace I would have found otherwise. But I'm glad I did because it was phenomenal! There were a lot of locals eating there, which is always a good sign. The service was wonderful. The waiters were attentive, but not pushy, and even with their limited English and my nonexistent Turkish we were able to communicate well and they gave great recommendations and suggestions. The food was absolutely delicious! So much flavor and the kebap was so tender and juicy. Extremely affordable too! I wish we were here for another few days because I would absolutely go back!

Excellent service. Everyone was exceptionally attentive and when I was eating my kebab plate wrong,…read morethe waiter actually showed me how to do it, by making a meal out of the wrap. I had no idea I was supposed scrape the eggplant and put it in the wrap like refried beans in a burrito. Haha. Glad I could experience it. And plenty of food.

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.

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!

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!

I was going to try the turkey lamb chop. So I pick a restaurant close to grand plaza. It was close…read moreto the tram station. There are four chops in the set. The chop was pan fried to almost well. I am guessing they don't ask about the temperature. Overall the food is good. The meat here is a bit tougher than the United State. They are likely seasoned. The meal comes with grilled pepper, tomato and turkey blow bread.

Everything I ate here was utterly delicious and unique. The staff was lovely and so helpful. Their…read morerecommendation of what to order was spot on. I'm already craving a second visit.

Galata Kitchen is not a doner grill and it doesn't open onto a busy street with a big outdoor…read morepatio. After two days having some great meals in Istanbul of that type, we looked for something different. Not far from Galata Tower, GK is on a side street with little foot traffic. It has a big modern sign back off the street and one of the operators saw us hesitating where to enter and waved us in from the front entrance. Inside it has whimsical and funny decorations and serious books mounted on the wall, but is not atmospheric, more like a diner. BUT the food is displayed in a case, hot and cold entrees separated, so you can see what you are ordering. You pick what you want and they assemble your choices on a plate and bring it to the table. Hot entrees included chicken bites in a tomato sauce and chicken with onions, lamb stew and beef and plenty of salad and vegetable choices in the cold display case. The group of men running the place that night were low key but personable, answering our questions about food items and Turkish literature. Service was prompt but understated and helpful. Our group of four had a great time and the menu is diverse enough that everyone found choices that pleased them. But remember, we came in expecting something very good other than doner kebap and were not disappointed!

Try their special with a mix of grilled meats. More food than 2 can handle. Staff is very friendly…read moreand if you strike up a conversation with them, they may even give you a free Turkish coffee with a surprise presentation. Can't reveal that on this review. Food was excellent. Pleasant and clean environment. Definitely a local hangout for the community. Glad we found it.

Very good the chicken is amazing super friendly staff if I ever come back to turkey I would…read moredefinitely stop by again.