Mega hyped because of the Anthony Bourdain connection. I've been in Istanbul for over a month, and…read moreevery time I have visited the place has been completely packed with tourists. Many of the reviews mention the good service, but my experience has been a little different. Every time I've visited here, I felt very uncomfortable and I don't find it welcoming. They still have an enormous amount of tourist business because of the Bourdain connection, and people seem to come here almost as a pilgrimage. The food itself is very good, but honestly, it isn't significantly better than some of the other places nearby. There are several restaurants in the area serving good kebap. Overall, glad I tried it because of the Bourdain connection, but for me, the hype is much bigger than the experience.

Our first food here in Turkey. Welcoming staff. Sweet waiter that took our order very promptly…read more Restaurant appears small from the outside, but actually has a second floor with more seating. Very clean bathrooms were a bonus downstairs also. Food was served quickly with an excellent portion size. I ordered the beef wrap and fries with a Pepsi. It was supposed to have been a small lunch, but was actually very filling. I will say the meat could've used a sauce. Something to cut all the grease that it was covered in. I did try someone else's chicken and it was even more in need of a flavorful sauce. That being said, it is served with ketchup and mayonnaise, which is familiar to us, but not the sauce I had in mind. Overall though, great first stop.

When you're walking around the water in Istanbul, you will be inundated with fish sandwich stalls…read more But which one to go to? It can seem so difficult to choose. Our suggestion? Navigate over the bridge (past the fish stands on the boats), past the fish market where the path then begins to lead to a series of restaurants and small stands, the latter of which were all selling what appeared to be identical fish sandwiches. We walked the entire length, carefully scrutinising each vendor before recognizing the correct stand. While every fish sandwich purveyor may seem to be serving what looks like identical products, Emin Usta's stand was the only one with a line. Along with this line comes Emin, a hulking beast of a man whose singular mission in life appears to be making the most amazing fish sandwich in all of Istanbul. Whereas we observed other vendors haphazardly throwing together a sandwich in under 15 seconds, Emin's attention to detail and pursuit of perfection carries his sandwich to heights others can only hope to attain. In his massive palms a pair of ordinary kitchen tongs transforms into culinary tweezers, which he wields with the precision of a surgeon, ever so delicately plucking each and every minute bone from the thin fillets. This attention to detail is the foundation upon which a remarkable sandwich is built. However, as you might expect, perfection like this comes at a price: if you are in a hurry, this is not the fish sandwich for you. Whether there are 3 or 30 people in his line, Emin remains at an even keel, completely unswayed as he churns out a sandwich or two every 5 minutes. He may also stop for a cigarette in between. While we were patiently waiting our turn to place our order, the gentleman in front noticed us as tourists and explained that he works nearby and that Emin Usta's fish sandwiches are legendary, as they are well-known to be the best among a sea of imitators. He did also give us a one recommendation for ordering: go with a wrap instead of on a roll, which we readily obliged. The end result? This was an incredibly delicious wrap. The fillet of fish was fresh and perfectly grilled, still flaky and moist without the slightest hint of being overcooked. The veggies added crunch and texture while the quick squeeze of lemon brightened everything up. Then, a drizzle of pomegranate syrup, secret sauce and a sprinkle from an unlabeled jar of Turkish spices brought all the flavors together - salty, spicy, sour and sweet. Plus, a bit of time on the grill after everything was put together meant the wrap had a bit of crispiness as well as a bit of smokiness. (TRY 9 = $3.50) When we had been on the other side of Galata Bridge, there were a couple of floating boats churning out fish sandwiches that were incredibly full of tourists (and maybe locals). After having Emin Usta's fish sandwich, we both agreed there was no way they would have been as good. He doesn't work the grill all the time (he has an assistant that works sometimes), so just look for the wet wipes with his face at the stand! If we lived in Istanbul, we would definitely come here regularly.

The Wrap has been a staple for me for years. Maybe because they literally have not changed their…read moremenu since 2006, and guess what, I am OK with that! Their wraps are large (not cheap) but definetly filling! "They have a few veggie wraps for our dear vegheads and a whole wheat tortilla option as well. Their smoothies are OK, but if you are ordering out, they don't travel very well. Don't bother not asking for the free mashed potatoes becuase they send it no matter what. Again, this is a great sunday ordering place if you are to lazy to cook and bored of the standard Turkish kebab. Try to the basil wrap bone, the moe and tom wrap and of course the Philly Cheese steak!

Ok first off this place is pretty amazing! The wraps, onion rings, smoothies, and carrot cake are…read moreall pretty darn good! This place might have found its way into my regular rotation. The place is nice and warm to relax with a small group of friends. The sitting seats with comfy and there is a place outside to eat also if you want fresh air. The employees were nice but hardly spoke or understood any English, so basically Google Translate will be your best friend. Also I recommend the Chicken Caesar salad which was pretty taste. The wraps can be pretty filling, so I would say get a small one if your not to hungry.

apotheosis of lahmacun. 1 portion has me FULL. it's been about 25 years since i was in Konya but…read morethe taste was authentic. the waiter was so generous - made me fresh iced tea with ice and turkish tea. a taste from heaven. the cashier was friendly: laughed at all my jokes. i'm a lousy comedian. my waiter's shift is over. the guy on duty now is more decorative but not nearly so friendly but the guy who just waitedon me was the waıter at ıftar durıng ramazan and he is just as generous and attentıve and good hearted as it gets. now they are playıng türkü

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.

The platter comes with a colorful salad and 2 different types of Timak pide (flat breads). We also…read moreordered a falafel. Very tasty lunch. We wanted to try their lamb chop But sadly sold out. This is a 2-story small family business, with seating the second floor terrace as well. We ordered the falafel, and a 3-person kebap platter which comes with a plate of fresh salads (includes pickled onions and red cabbage) and flatbreads. All were delicious and generous amount. We wanted to order lamb chops but it was sadly sold out. Conveniently located near Hagia Sofia (Ayasofia çamii) The shop is in a historical building. Due to permit limitations, there is no toilets in the restaurant but there are small local mosques nearby that have clean toilets you can use for 20 ira.

Delicious local lunch spot. It's not on the Main Street but use Google Maps to save it and then go…read morebut go early. They will sell out by late afternoon. The Lentil soup was rated #2 best of all of Istanbul. The döner kebap was rated #1 of all restaurants we visited. I has a vegetarian wrap and my wife had a chicken wrap. Packed with flavor and just the right amount of sauce. The hummus was very good and the service was fantastic. The have seats inside and in the patio area. Don't miss out on the best döner wrap in Istanbul.

You go down a little Alloway off of the main street of Taxi and you will find this spot. You will…read moresee the raw kebab skewers in the window and don't let it scare you away, go inside and get yourself a nice combo plate and enjoy the freshly cooked and generous amounts of meat And you will not be disappointed. Also, the chicken wings up the spot are to die for.

I can't express enough how happy we're to have this meal for our last night in Istanbul. It was…read morerecommended by one of the locals. The place was small yet very charming. They have a lower area and alfresco seating. We had their Antakya Kebap Dürüm, Beğendili Bonfile Şiş Dürüm, and 4 kinds of appetizers. We savor every bite and it was really good. Note this place could have a wait time, if you have a big group I recommend try to reserve.

I happen to stumble upon this restaurant while visiting turkey. It's located in a basement so just…read morebe on the lookout because you can miss it. However, the food was so fresh and fulfilling. I enjoyed every moment of it and if I'm ever back in turkey, I will go back. My only downside was the fact that the restaurant allowed stray cats to come inside and the cats will try to steal your food or either jump on the seat to sit next to you if you're not a cat person just keep your head on a swivel. Try everything on the menu you won't regret it.