Had dinner at Maya Bistro. Had not been there for a while. Great service from Ali. Food is still excellent. We received complimentary hot, delectable pita bread with olive tapenade. The red lentil soup was delicious and served hot like soup should be. We shared 2 dishes and both were delicious. Orange & beet salad on a potato puree with olive oil and lemon and sprinkled with walnuts & onions. Yum! And very tender pieces of chicken with yogurt on bread and also with grilled bell peppers, jalapeño and tomato. So good. Restaurant has pleasant low lighting, nice bar, very clean, cloth napkins. An enjoyable experience. Can't wait to go back and try other items on the menu! read more

We had a fantastic time . Very clean , very fresh . Our server was Isaac and he was amazing. We will definitely recommend this restaurant and looking forward to visit it again soon. read more

Maya Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The mixed grill at Maya Bistro was delicious--the meats were tender, juicy, and full of that real Turkish flavor with a nice char on them. It really reminded me of the kebabs and grilled meats I had in Istanbul. The platter comes with chicken shish, adana kebab, lamb chops, beef shish, plus the rice pilaf, bulgur, and grilled veggies, and it's plenty for two read more

Maya Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a cheerful and comfortable place to walk into on a winter evening. For an American, you see the word "Maya" and you can be forgiven for thinking you are walking into a restaurant that serves tequila and tostadas. This place is Turkish! We were seated at a window table near the bar. The bar is well stocked, so my friend had a Moscow Mule or perhaps here we should call it an Ankara Ass :-) I went with a classic Negroni. Both were perfect. We started with the fried brussels sprouts, and some Turkish bread with olive tapenade Fried brussels sprouts came out very tasty with that bright shade of green that you know will taste good. Great flavor. My friend had something vegetarian with bulgar pilaf for his course and I went with the lamb chops with rice pilav. The lamb chops were a little small, but with today's inflation, it was all right. The perfect amount of food. To accompany our entrees we each had a glass of Turkish Angora wine. Coming from California I was a little snobby, but it is quite good. I was worried it might be like retsina but it's nothing like that. Well worth having a second glass. For dessert, my friend had the rice pudding and I had the dried apricots with caramel drizzle. Really good desserts! Really great service! Managed the table well and pleased to answer questions. read more

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Always a pleasure to eat here. While they only have a small (free) parking lot, I've never had an issue getting parked. The staff are friendly and attentive, with a relaxing casual setting appropriate for family and friends. The menu is wide enough to satisfy just about anyone, and the food is great. On my last visit, we started out with the Maya trio, ordering the hummus, baba ganoush, and patlican kozleme (one of my favorites). For my main meal I opted to try the baked zucchini. It's good, but I have other favorites I tend to drift to. My wife had the manti (which I always enjoy) and son had the sucuk (although I love the lamacun). We finished the meal off with knefe, a MUST TRY. read more

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Really wish I could give Maya Bistro 5 stars! The service was great and the food was tasty. We started with the mezze trio and enjoyed it. I ordered the chicken shish platter with veggies and was wowed by the amount of veggies! The chicken had great flavor, but some of the pieces came out undercooked with a little pink in the middle (I ate it anyway and regretted it the next day). My husband enjoyed the Manti but didn't love the sauce. My companions both ordered the Kunefe, which we needed to wait 10 minutes for. Both dishes came out warm and tasted incredible! I ordered the baklava and enjoyed it, but would have preferred if it would have been served warm, especially as we were waiting on the other desserts. The flatbreads look incredible and if we return we will give them a try. I got great vibes from the staff, and will likely try them again in the future. read more

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I am back in Arlington for a few days from Colorado, and maya was one of the two places after YEARS where I was like DAMN I have to stop here before I leave. Just grabbed dinner here with my mom-- and the food is just so incredibly technically executed. Unlike other restaurants out there, maya bistro is consistent AND delicious. The grilled calamari is truly still to this day some of the most tender calamari dishes I've had. The protein is always cooked so well with great flavor. The wine ...the rice pudding and baklava?! You can taste the love in the food crafted by this family owned restaurant in every bite. Need a date night spot that is local-- please come here. I'm jealous that arlingtonians have a place like this so delicious AND local. read more

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So good! Definitely recommend!! My family and I came, we were about 10 people in total. And the service was great, the restaurant itself seems clean and the food was amazing. We will be coming back. read more

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Good food and friendly service . Check it out if you are in the mood for decent Turkish food.

Everything was delicious! This was our first visit, but definitely won't be our last. Our group tried about 10 different mezzes and we raved about each one. We'd call it the best Mediterranean food in the area. And we've had lots. Friendly staff, clean and quiet space, reasonable prices. read more

My husband and I are both Turkish, so I decided to find a Turkish restaurant while we were visiting DC to enjoy for his birthday. The original restaurants I picked did not serve döner on the day we wanted to go, so I had to find a place that served his second favorite- Mantı. I was in it solely for the Pide, especially as a vegetarian. I also ordered the fried cauliflower with cacık (yogurt sauce) instead of tahini... and it was wonderful! In fact, I thought MY food was so good, that I ordered it for delivery again the next night! My husband and I both agreed that we didn't care too much for the lahmacun, (yes, the vegetarian tried a BITE because I had to... It's in my blood.) but the Pide was baked perfectly. I could taste a hint of feta or a sharp cheese inside, but just enough to add the perfect amount of flavor! Dining in was a calm atmosphere, but my husband and I were dealing with a few family issues at the time so our visit was cut short. I wish it wouldn't have been, because I wanted to stick around for coffee and dessert! I did manage to order Künefe to go, and it was really good too. Not the first restaurant I had in mind, but definitely a cute little hidden gem. Go support this small business, solely for the Pide! read more

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Not sure how it's taken me this long to leave a review but I LOVE this place. I haven't gotten anything there that I didn't like. Zucchini cakes, dips,maya cigars, salads, flatbreads, kofta, baklava I really do mean everything there is good. The staff is beyond friendly and the restaurant is generally pretty empty. I think the prices are reasonable for Turkish food but might be on the pricer side. But I'd pay whatever price for this food. Best Turkish place in the area for sure! read more

Maya Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Simply perfection! Family owned and run -- and food that is supreme! Every ingredient is treated with respect and presented so beautifully. Did lunch today - spinach pie for me and calamari for my guest. Everything was just so fabulous. Got two spinach flatbreads to go because they freeze so well (cut them into bite size pieces and freeze in layers between parchment paper -- reheat in oven and serve!) read more

Maya Bistro - Spinach pie entree!!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Always good food and friendly faces. Lovely dining room, great service. Our favorites include the flatbreads, Brussels sprouts, zucchini cakes, adana. And the people. They're great. read more

Maya Bistro is a family-owned eatery that serves up Turkish and Mediterranean fare. We came here for an early dinner, and we ordered: +a Maya Mezze for 2 - this came with patlican kozleme, htipiti, hummus. Maya cigars, dolmas, and falafel - I liked the hummus and the falafel +a Mixed Grilled Platter for 2 - this came with chicken shish, adana, lamb chops, beef shish, rice pilav, bulgar pilav, and seasoned veggies; we were fans of the beef shish, as they were marinated cubes of beef +an Apricot Delight - sun-dried apricots stuffed with walnuts, baked in honey syrup; served with vanilla mascarpone cheese and topped with caramel sauce - this was a tasty dessert! Really liked how this dessert was assembled using the dried apricots, and the combination of the mascarpone and the caramel was decadent The plates were aesthetically pleasing, and the portions were more than enough. Service was friendly, and the restaurant was bright and cheery. There are spots in the shared plaza lot. +Apricot Delight +friendly service +parking in the shared plaza lot read more

Absolutely loved this neighborhood spot. Unfortunately they added an automatic 20% tip to the bill. Totally unnecessary and I almost missed it. Makes me not want to come back, especially when service was not great and not a large party. Beware if you dine here, look hard at the receipt before you pay. read more

I had heard many great things about this restaurant. I knew the prices were higher, but I came here for a special occasion expecting all the food to be excellent. It was only pretty good with one dish that seemed well above average. The trio of three dips was fine with only the ezme dip having real flavor in comparison to the cacik and the htipiti ones. While the Shepherd salad was fine, the tomatoes didn't have much flavor at all. On the other hand, the red lentil soup was amazing. The lamb kabob was very dry and overcooked despite the good flavor of the spice. The other dish I would get again besides the soup is the maya cigars which were outstanding. The peynirli flatbread was also pretty good. For the price, though, I could have gotten a more delicious meal at another Turkish restaurant in the area. read more

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A delicious neighborhood gem. This family run business is the real deal if you want authentic Turkish food....Enjoyed the poached shrimp in a lemon olive oil sauce, homemade pitas and the highly recommended mezze for the table.Don't forget to order the Kunefe, it leaves traditional baklava in the dust! read more

Highly recommend. Food is fresh, delicious and healthy. The chicken wraps are awesome.

Authentic Turkish family-run restaurant bursting with flavor. The synergy and close-knit family dynamic is truly impressive. Everyone pitches in from the siblings servers who double up as bartenders to the father in chief hosting and managing the restaurant, while the mom/aunts/uncles preserve their secret family recipes and pepper in the spices in the kitchen. The complementary pillowy soft Turkish bread similar to focaccia is divine! We devoured the the entire loaf and got another round! The Maya Mezze for 2 is a fun sampler of Turkish dishes with a platter of hummus, eggplant-based Patlican Kozleme, Htipiti red pepper & feta dip, falafel, Turkish cigars stuffed with feta cheese, and Bamya okra (substituted them over Dolmas). Of all the mini apps, the hummus, cheesy Turkish cigars, and crispy and tender falafel with perfect consistency without being dry or oily were my favorite. Highly recommend trying the Mezze! The crispy Zucchini Cake were tasty and fun to try! The Spanokopita with lots of layers of phyllo dough and stuffed with spinach and feta was quite filling. Our server was super nice and gave us Baklava on the house! Although we were stuffed to the brim, we thoroughly enjoyed all the crispy layers of phyllo dough and walnuts coated with honey and sprinkled with crunchy pistachio crumbs. We polished off a clean plate, there wasn't a morsel to spare! My hubby enjoyed his foamy cappuccino. A sweet ending to a delicious savory meal! Although there's no outdoor seating, there's plenty of seating inside. Looking forward to coming back and exploring the rest of the menu! read more

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Today i went to this Turkish restaurant and tried mix grill, was an amazing taste. Friendly server Murat and his family making a great job. It's a small warm environment. I recommend to give it a try! read more

This is a nice small restaurant that's family run where the parents are the chefs. The food is delicious here! They give you bread to start off, which was pretty soft. I ordered the Htipiti for appetizer, Lamb Chops for entree, and Kunefe for dessert. The Htipiti is a cold appetizer, and it tasted fresh and the seasoning was flavorful. The presentation of the dish was beautiful, and it had the right amount of cheese and tomato that mixed well with the dish. The Lamb Chops were tender and seasoned well. The meat doesn't fall off the bone, but the meat itself was soft and flavorful. The Kunefe was absolutely delicious. It wasn't overly sweet, and enjoyed how cheesy the dish was and covered with honey. Overall, the food was delicious, and the service was exceptional for a small family run restaurant. Would definitely return to try their other desserts that look amazing. read more

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Excellent food, excellent service. You can tell it is a family owned business. We eat there very often with my family and with friends. If you like fish get the branzino if you are a meat fan get the Adana. We also often order the Adana wrap with salad. On the sweet note don't forget to order the kunaffeh, yum! read more

We had brunch here yesterday and it was delicious. I wish I had taken pictures. The maya mezzes appetizer plate was mouthwatering. I had a wonderful Turkish sausage omelette and the kunefe for dessert. I would go back just for that kunefe. It was so good. I don't understand why this place was pretty empty. Try it! You won't be disappointed! read more

What a great experience! Had dinner here during the week and loved it. Service was great - very attentive and friendly. Food was delicious and served quickly. Will definitely be back! Added plus: parking outside. read more

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Finding this place was a pleasant surprise. After coaxing a reluctant coworker into going to this authentic Turkish place with some Mediterreanean dishes, was so glad we tried it! The food here was outstanding and definitely has earned its Yelpy 5 stars. Great, attentive service from waiters, beverage refills, and exceptional quality good food. We ate outside- they have a few patio seats with umbrellas and the place was nearly empty when we dined there for a late afternoon lunch. The only caveat was there is very limited parking out front shared by the few stores/restaurants there. There is also some side street parking available (but not great for those who may not be up for a lot of walking), depending how you luck out on your spot. They serve fresh hot bread with olives/olive oil. When the food came out, the plates we noticed they were not only excellent presentation but very colorful. The chicken shish kabob with rice was so, so good! Nearly melt-in-your-mouth, tender chicken chunks and flavorful almost buttery saffron basmati rice. The portion was enough to take home one of the two skewers for later and left room to try dessert. They have many good options. They thanked us twice for trying their restaurant. Show this place some love and try it out! read more

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The food was delicious and beautifully presented. A vast menu of excellent choices to eat and drink. And our waiter Ibrahim was terrific. We love supporting local businesses amd this one is a winner! We will be back and tell others. read more

Maya Bistro - Beyti Yogurt and Chicken Shish - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Fantastic Mediterranean food prepared so fresh. Outstanding service. Really enjoyed the grilled calamari and the chicken wrap. The trio of spreads is the way go as a starter. That gives you a chance to enjoy the oven-hot breads. Finally a great seasonal pumpkin dessert. So updated with a marvelous dinner. The mixed grill platter was excellent. Even though the place was full the service was top-notch! During this pandemic we have relied on the Maya Bistro as our go to for takeout. As always the food is hot and delicious. One time when our son made the pick up and forgot his wallet the owner said just take the food it's my treat of course we sent them back with the money. Well the idea is this is a family run shop and they are good good people who work hard. I think if you could support them during this difficult time it would be much appreciated! read more

Maya Bistro - Pumpkin Delight - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My fiancé and I went in to Maya Bistro for a quick drink during their happy hour, and we left with stomachs full and smiles on our faces! Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and we had great conversations with Ibrahim and the rest of the staff. The food was incredible, and it is safe to say we will be coming back VERY soon! read more

Maya Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Today, we had an outstanding experience at Maya Bistro! We sat on the patio under an umbrella to enjoy a beautiful spring day. We were greeted by Chef and the entire staff! Ibrahim, our waiter was very attentive and offered several recommendations that were both refreshing and delicious. We had the whole Branzino and Kofte with mixed vegetables. And to finish, a terrific Turkish coffee. Delicious! Before we left, I walked inside to see the indoor dining area and bar. Terrifically renovated and appointed. Great people, great food and drinks, great setting! Thank you Ibrahim, Chef and all for a perfect spring lunch! We'll be back! read more

Maya Bistro - Kofte and whole Branzino on the patio! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This place is excellent. The servers are efficient and nice. I had their whiskey cocktail, which I really enjoyed, not too sweet. We ordered the dolma and grilled calamari apps and both were delicious. We then had the grilled salmon and the falafel salad as mains. The falafel was perhaps the best falafel I've had in 10 years. The salad was nice and fresh, but a little too vinegary for my taste. I didn't eat the salmon, but my guest ate the entire thing and seemed satisfied. We also got their great baklava desert. All this for a fair price. Great job! read more

I don't usually see restaurants that offer bulgur pilaf like here, and it was so yummy! I will continue ordering bulgur from now on. I was a little disappointed that I was getting only 4 dolmas for the price at first, but they were huge and had very unique flavors. It was a little sweet, fatty, and not so much acidic. The veggies and meats were grilled well. read more

Check out this new spot! Came for dessert only--quick stop for tasty baklava and Turkish tea. Delish! The baklava is homemade! Tasty, crispy, light...absolutely perfect! Where else can you find homemade sweets in a restaurant?! When we inquired, they told us the baklava is made fresh by the owners wife! Incredible! Looking forward to coming back and trying some mezze's from the main menu! Adana yogurt looks exciting and new! Service is warm and welcoming. This family run business is a sure winner. Friendly, happy to explain the dishes, and attentive. Will be back soon!!!! read more

Maya Bistro - Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Had a taste of lots. ALL good. Had: sample of three dips, two eggplant and a chopped tomatoes. Zucchini cakes, good yogurt sauce. Dessert of rice pudding. Would get each dish again. Excellent service. Highly recommend. read more

We came in pretty late on a weekday (around 8:50-9) but were seated with no issues and weren't rushed through the meal. The service was excellent and the food delicious. We ordered the maya trio to try the different dips, and got fresh bread refilled throughout the meal. The bread was nice and warm and came with olive oil and chopped olives. We ordered Adana yogurt and the chicken shish kabobs. Both turned out really well and the chicken kabobs came with a side of your choice. The yogurt kabobs were pretty unique and wrapped with something like a tortilla. We really enjoyed both the entrees! Our server brought out some baklava in the end and it was a delicious and sweet way to end the meal. Will definitely come back! read more

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What a gem! Family-owned restaurant- you can feel the care and love that goes into this establishment in every detail. From a warm and inviting ambiance to the delicious food. Please try moussaka; it is absolutely perfect. To the owner - thank you for the outstanding service and experience. We will be back. read more

Maya Bistro - Moussaka and Lamb Shish kebab. - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Our visit to Maya Bistro during their soft opening was simply wonderful. Family owned with brother and sister staffing the front while Mom and Pop cooked in the back. Very friendly and attentive. I had the Adana sandwich and the Maya Trio of Htipiti, Ezme, and Cacik. None were disappointing. I would definitely recommend Maya Bistro to anyone who appreciates Turkish & Mediterranean food!! read more

Maya Bistro - The hummus is on point every time we dine here! Loving me some Turkish wine! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Fantastic restaurant,friendly and attentive staff,huge portions incredible tasty food and a classy restaurant to take a date to or just go to for a family gathering. We'll definitely return! Would definitely recommend read more

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Came here during the peak of dinner time on a Saturday evening and was lucky enough to snag the last table for 2 they had available. I highly recommend making a reservation - as this place was definitely packed. I can tell they were opened, thriving, and definitely busy - with only 3 servers and all tables filled in the restaurant, I was very impressed by their work ethic. Our server in particular never made us feel rush though he was clearly busy and slowed down to ask us questions on how the food was. We ordered the beef kofte and lamb Shish- very good! Paired well with the rice and side yogurt, moist and not dry. I was surprisingly filled up on the entree alone. Meals are also offered with complimentary homemade warm bread. A pretty good location for a Mediterranean meal. read more

Maya Bistro - Beef kofte - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We live right down the street and have been in two times in the last month. Disclaimer: my wife has lived in the ME, N Africa, Central Asia for a number of years and including a short time in Turkey. She informed the menu and the food itself were truly authentic ME. We both love the freshness and while you may need to wait a wee bit longer than other ME dining rooms around, it's only because every dish is painstakingly hand prepared- nothing that's been in the refrigerator for a few days. I love the apricot juice - authentically prepared from dried apricots. The deserts are spectacular. For a small low-profile establishment, the quality and tastes are world-class. read more

Maya Bistro - Entree section of the menu. - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia