Cancel

Open app

Search

Sofra Istanbul

4.0 (134 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Order Sofra Istanbul Takeout or Delivery

Sofra Istanbul Photos

Business Info

SOFRA ISTANBUL ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

More like Sofra Istanbul

Recommended Reviews - Sofra Istanbul

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Check your receipts carefully. Make sure you get them in the first place.
Sandy B.

Not impressed. The self serve gas station of restaurants with full serve pricing. Disclaimer: pricing varies according to customer's appearance and number of party members. Reminds one of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi Policy. Came in without a reservation. Just me. Not very attentive service. The staff would much prefer that you seat yourself, find your cutlery from other tables, and deny till you say you're sorry that they have any cutlery besides salad forks, butter knives and one standard size spoon. Guess they don't like keeping up with Uber tables for the walk ins. Well ... I hope the food compensates. I've ordered Comcha Salad and Manti. Salad portion was decent for the small. Easily split between 2 people. Typical grade produce for this level of eatery and time of year - anemic tomatoes, small cucumber dice, and worst of all, the tough, yellow (obviously old mixed in with newer) parsley. I was looking forward to trying Manti, a Turkish form of ravioli, as I had not come across it in my travels and definitely wanted to experience something new to sample. Unfortunately, it really wasn't to taste - I found the combination of warm and cold bit of red type sauce and cold sour cream not something I'd order again. The ravioli are very small little meatballs wrapped in wonton like noodles, and the filling was quite dry. Also, the ratio of noodle you end up getting in relation to the to filling is very high, so you mostly get a plate of starch, sour cream, and some dry meat. Not my new favourite Turkish. It tasted better when I brought the remainder home and nuked it. I hate wasting food so I decided it would be worth taking it away with me back to the hotel, even though once again, it's a case of being presented with your little styrofoam containers to fill yourself. The little salad bowl was easy to empty straight into the container, but the Manti was a different story. It wouldn't have been so clumsy had the heavy, oblong platter been so awkward to angle that you can't handle the food well. Even the staff couldn't stack the dishes very securely for more than one table. She almost dropped my salad bowl on me and left the rest. I sure wish those IKEA glasses were larger. The one glass of water I received was nowhere sufficient for the amount of time I spent waiting on myself, and then waiting for the bill. Could you at least put a pitcher on the table? The food was worth coming in to try. The service made it sure I don't come back. If you're not a regular, or booking a nice easy party to cater, you're a waste of their time and space. Yes, dear, you're not welcome when you look at your payment and don't see the tip you still expect? No thanks.. also, I only have my cash subtotal. They kept my credit card receipt. I hope the cash slip matches my statement when it arrives in the mail. I'm guessing it will, but the point of those credit receipts is so a customer can track and reconcile the charges showing later. Worst part of the cash in, cash out approach to the service.

The food was perfect!!!!! Friendly staff, awesome service and great experience overall; the prices were really good and the food was absolutely delicious!! Must try!

the menus of the restaurant
Chandan K.

Mom and pop shop, best bang for buck with amazing flavors. We had falafel wraps, hummus and pita. The portions were generous and the food was delicious.

Do full
Nadia A.

Glad I tried this place I decided to dine in I ordered the chicken shawarma dinner which is $15.99 they give you complimentary bread served with your salad first the salad I had all fresh ingredients the the dressing was amazing When the chicken shawarma plate actually came out I was surprised it was a lot of meat the rice was tasty and the food tasted light. I didn't feel heavy while I was eating but I could not finish the portion sizes were quite large The only thing missing was some garlic potatoes and a bit of my rice was stuck together and chewy but other than that everything was amazing they exceeded my expectations

Tabouli

Everything was so delicious!! The service was fast and very kind. The ambiance is less enticing but the food makes up for it.

Kiran S.

We came here for dinner on Saturday and were fasting for Ramadan. We told them that we wanted to get our food when it was time to eat and the waitress was very kind and told us she would make sure it came out then. Our sons meal, the kofta with fries came out before and was freshly made and came with a soft naan. We ordered several things off of the menu which included the vegetable and mixed Pide, Tzatziki, chicken shish kabob white, falafels, shawarma hummus and salad (weird tasting and wouldn't recommend) and Turkish tea. Food was fresh and so good. Service was quick and came just in time to open our fast. Will be going back!!

Mabel L.

A great restaurant all the way in Vaughn. If you are heading to Black Creek Pioneer Village, this is a perfect place to have lunch or dinner before or after you head to the park. They have an extensive menu with some traditional Turkish food that you will only find in Turkey. They also have other general menu items such as schnitzel, kabobs, shawarma, and steak for those who are not adventurus in trying something different. I ordered Beyti a ground beef and lamb skewer wrapped in some form of paper dough. It was amazing. The Turkish pizzas looked and tasted amazing too. Their Baklavas are quite good and very cheap ($1.79). This is a great restaurant to check out. I wish it was more central. I would come here more often.

See all

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of L W.
1
1122
7358

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Love the portions they pack. Taste is awesome, the chicken shawarma dinner or chicken shawarma sandwich are my go to all the time.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Every bite was delicious. The service was excellent! If you are in the area, I would highly recommend this eatery.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Cher A.
273
957
1082

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of M N.
0
6
0

2 years ago

Amazing Turkish food. Try lahmacun here, or land chop, or lentil soup.... Or all of them.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kiran S.
41
120
223

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Biggest shawarma in town , price is modest , service great - food is good . Always busy on friday come early for lunch otherwise line up .

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bitko M.
18
15
13

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Great food, amazing spices, delicious desserts. Amazing Turkish pizza, children shawarma.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Anna T.
114
11
1

15 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Nice big portions. The only downside is that we have to purchase the sauces separately.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ron R.
4
9
27

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jess H.
116
224
1578

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 4

Sofra Istanbul Reviews in Other Languages

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Mediterranean 1,733 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Eli's Table - Chicken Shawarma Plate

Eli's Table

(164 reviews)

$

Good place for takeout, they do have some seating area but is limited…read more Foods are delicious with big portions, the owner is very friendly and welcoming. The students special is a great deal. Highly recommended for those going to wonderland, much better and healthier foods than those in wonderland.

I saw all the high ratings on multiple platforms (and my friend also recommended this place) so I…read moredecided to drop in for dinner after visiting Seara Pastry & Bakery nearby for a Yelp Elite event. The unit is very cozy. I talked to the guy on his laptop (presumably the owner) and asked him to hit me with a large plate of chicken shawarma and he hooked me up with the BIGGEST portion. Your boi ate GOOD. There was a ton of chicken and the meat was juicy. I also told him to add all the housemade sauces to my order. My plate came w/ 3 sides. I opted for pasta salad, some kind of herb salad and potatoes. The sides were bright, punchy and acidic which helped to cut back on the richness of the meat. I see some reviewers saying the sides were too salty or sour, but I happened to think there was a perfect balance on my taste buds (I'm on of those guys who loves pickles w/ his shawarma). If the potatoes were warm/hot I do think it would elevate their taste even more as they were kinda cold but that's a pretty much a nitpick (and I'm guessing the potatoes are supposed to be served cold?). My food was ready super fast and the portions are massive! For $15 I definitely felt like I got excellent quality and value. I'll definitely be back in the future when I'm in the area! P.S. The parking lot is wonky. You'll have to circle around the building to get to it as the closest entrance is actually a one-way exit.

Watercolour Restaurant - CHICKEN MARBELLA $42 roasted chicken + chorizo + peppers + olives + onions + confit garlic

Watercolour Restaurant

(91 reviews)

$$$$

Unionville Mainstreet, Unionville

The restaurant was quite busy when we arrived, but service was impressively quick and genuinely…read morefriendly, which immediately made the experience feel welcoming. The carpaccio was fine, pleasant but fairly straightforward, but everything else we ordered was excellent The octopus was tender, and hearty, paired nicely with potatoes, hummus, some greens, and capers. It was well-balanced and satisfying without feeling heavy. The steak came out a perfect medium-rare and juicy. The nut topping on the fish added a really nice crunch, contrasting beautifully with the soft, tender flesh of the fish. And then there was the duck: the clear standout of the night. It was beautifully cooked and seasoned. The fat kept it incredibly juicy without feeling greasy. The charred cabbage on the side added a subtle smokiness that tied everything together perfectly. Every bite honestly made me happier and happier. Getting to the restaurant was a little confusing at first, but once you're there, it's absolutely worth it. A really enjoyable meal overall, and especially memorable for that duck dish. Definitely a place I'd return to.

Great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion!…read more Watercolour has a rotating menu that is delicious and will get you coming back. I found this place on TikTok like many other spots but unlike others, Watercolour did not disappoint. The restaurant was warm and intimate and would've been lovely if we were seated at the upper level overlooking the restaurant. The service was amazing and gave perfect suggestions, while being attentive. Would definitely recommend the lobster tagliatelle. I'll be back! 4.65/5

Shelby's - Chicken wrap

Shelby's

(3 reviews)

First time trying Shelby's after seeing all their trending funny reels but never had a chance…read morebecause their spots are outside Toronto in the burbs. We ordered the chicken shawarma and the legendary bowl with mixed protein. I dressed my wrap with spicy garlic and it just had a tiny bit of heat and it was perfect. I really enjoyed the fresh saj bread that it's wrapped in. It really sets it apart from all the shawarma places around town. The legendary bowl is also really good with a generous amount of protein and my SO love the roasted cauliflower on top though he says the fries in the bowl is not as good as another shawarma he enjoys downtown and would order the crispy wrap for next time. The space is really on theme and matches the catchphrases from their reels and even the receipt gives you a waiver warning about using ketchup on their shawarma. I love how they have the tablets so you can order and check the offerings to disperse the line and wait. It's not as fast as the usual fast food, shawarma spots but the quality is certainly up there. It doesn't look busy but they have a steady flow of online deliveries/pickups. The only feedback is the receipts seem really long because they include the waiver to not use ketchup in each receipt. Since they ask for your number to order on the tablet, probably just include it the first time. We forgot to order a drink and ordered it separately and it is unnecessary to print another long receipt again for one drink. Lastly a curious question I have is why the name Shelby's? Given the Middle-Eastern food, I wonder why an English-origin name.

The best schwarmas I've ever eaten Ordered their legendary…read morephalaphal was the best The legendary lamb and cheese schwarma was very good too The interiors are cool too The customer service is the best It's self service was very good Good ambiance and a very good experience The legendary wrap is so big with the best taste

Champion Doner - Mixed Pide

Champion Doner

(81 reviews)

I was misled by the positive reviews, or maybe I was just unlucky…read more Walked in and decided on the Chicken Doner wrap, and was waiting at the register to order, there 5+ workers looked at me several times, and continued to do there thing, talking to each other and doing whatever. I waved at one and said I was ready to order, and one girl said alright, and continued doing there thing, waited a good 5 minutes for someone to actually take my order... I haven't felt so invisible at a restaurant for a very long time. Anyways - got a combo, and they didn't say anything on where to get a drink, I saw the drink display to the side, so grabbed my can - and one of the workers were like , did you order that? , Um... yes, I ordered a combo, and I'm assuming this is where you grab the drink? - and then she's like oh okay. The wrap itself was okay , however the chicken was a little dry in some bites - fries were unseasoned, so you can figure that out on your own as well. Overall, disaster of an experience - and absolutely will not re-visit on my next Toronto trip.

You know a spot is good when it's packed!…read more Champion Doner looks like an ordinary spot on the outside but inside it's always rocking with long lines. That's because the shaved Turkish döner meats are juicy with flavour coated by a savoury trio of creamy sauces. The meal portions are usually generous yet somehow we end up gulping it all down in no time. The order process is simple but the wait thereafter always builds up the anticipation. Upon being called, head up to pick our choice of healthy salad to cut through the hearty protein. Our picks on rice are usually red cabbage, mixed salad, pickled turnips, hot baby peppers, hummus and cheese over döner meats plus a blend of tangy mango & spicy garlic sauces. The balance of meat and vegetables is perfect whether it's the mixed döner plate of chicken & beef or a couple separate döner boxes for takeout. The only difference is some ladies here give larger portions than others! Despite the messy chaotic restaurant interior and long wait that detract from the meal experience, there's a reason why so many patrons keep packing in here. Skip it or hit it? Without a doubt this is a champion of good Turkish food perfect for meat lovers.

Sofram

Sofram

(108 reviews)

$$

Thornhill Woods

Bad meal tonight .... Ordered the lamb pita. The pieces of meat are really small... I would have…read moreordered the kabob on its own had I known. I had actually taken the time to ask the staff at cash whether the pieces would be the same size as the kabob. Way too much sauce. I asked for garlic and I wanted minced garlic like toum... before I could correct her the server was squirting sauce in the pita from those squeeze bottles meant for mustard and ketchup. This was on top of babaghanoush which already has garlic in it...like no reason to add liquidy garlic sauce on top of that.....I had to search for the meat with a fork. I had the picked turnips and they weren't tasty and were too salty. The whole thing was like a pita full of SLOP. Wouldn't order it again or would make sure the server wasn't using too much sauce. Wouldn't order the lamb again like this. I ate half of the salad items inside the pita but couldn't finish it - too wet and gross. Had to buy candy at convenience store afterward for a palate change - bad aftertaste etc.

Food was fine but: I…read moream gluten intolerant and vegan. Since somebody else had planned, this meal, I reached out to the restaurant multiple times beforehand to see what options there were for me, nobody got back to me, even though I could see that my messages were read. When I got there, I reviewed the menu and was surprised to see even things that normally do not have gluten, such as french fries, roast potatoes, and falafel were marked with gluten. There was very little I could eat. I ended up getting a cold appetizer tray which for $19, for about half a cup of hummus, half a cup of mushrooms, and half a cup of roast eggplant. I asked if I could have rice on the side instead of the bread, she said she could not substitute, and I would have to pay for it. I did so, and received less than a cup of plain rice. When I got my bill, it was $34. The rice on the side, was over $7. Absolutely ridiculous that I spent $34 on a meal of plain rice, and 3 small dips. Extremely unaccommodating and also rude, I would not go back. If you have any kind of food, intolerances or preferences not recommended.

Jerusalem Restaurant

Jerusalem Restaurant

(191 reviews)

$$$

The service was great from the moment we walked in. Someone quickly came over to ask what we'd like…read moreto drink, which made us feel welcomed right away. It was an open buffet, and the staff checked on us a few times throughout our visit, making sure everything was okay and that we had what we needed. The ambiance was really nice, and I honestly loved the vibe of the place. There was a belly dancer, and she was really nice and added a fun, lively touch to the overall experience. The food was good overall. It wasn't too bad at all, and I enjoyed what I tried, though I do wish there had been a bit more variety to choose from. Even so, everything was still tasty and satisfying. Dessert was also good and a nice way to end the meal. Overall, it was a pleasant experience with good service, a nice atmosphere, and enjoyable food, and I would definitely consider going back.

We wanted to come here for the buffet, but upon arriving, we were told that it was closed (we got…read morethere in the mid-afternoon)... even though we checked open times beforehand online. The take-out counter was open, so we opted for that instead. Most of the foods on display were ready-to-go and vegetarian / vegan. You can also order manakeesh (Lebanese flatbread topped with toppings such as cheese, spinach, and za'atar - akin to thin-crust pizza) to be made on site. We opted for the vegetarian mix-and-match plates, which came with either rice or salad, 5 small sides, and 3 falafels. Most of the items were pretty good, my favourites being the arnabeet (cauliflower), eggplant with chickpeas and tomato-based sauce, bamya (okra), and white cannellini beans salad. The warak enab (also called dolma or stuffed grape vine leaves) was flavourless and had too much ratio-to-grape vine leaves ratio (more rice inside that I'd like). The tabbouleh was way too salty. The other dishes were good though. Although the manakeesh was made fresh to order, it came out pretty fast. It was also extremely salty. There were a few small tables by the take-out counter, for those who wish to eat the take-out items on the spot. They packaged all the items very well to avoid leakage.

Byblos - Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Byblos

(987 reviews)

$$$$

Entertainment District, Downtown Core

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Food: We had our office holiday dinner here and 15 people attended. We did a set menu which had 3 courses. The first course was Labneh with bread, hummus, & beef tartare. Second course was Lamb pide & pear salad. Third course was grilled branzino, middle eastern fried chicken, black truffle rice, and thrice cooked fries. Then there was dessert which was chocolate mousse cake & baklava. Because of my many food allergies the main server for our table was very attentive & specific in asking me what I wanted as modifications. For example I got a wagyu beef pide instead of the lamb. Every dish was really delicious, presented well & quite filling. I couldn't eat all of the food. Though I tried almost everything. Service: The pacing of the dishes was quite masterful. They really paid attention to when the food was going to come out. As I mentioned above the main server was very attentive to my food allergies. I really appreciated that as some restaurants aren't as attentive. The food was served family style so everyone could take what they wanted from the serving dishes. The dishes were served in little bowls along the tables with each bowl serving about 4 people. We had asked for one long table so it was a little snug. But we made it work. Ambiance: For dinner the lighting of the space is really dim. LOL. I would have appreciated just a little bit more light. The restaurant is in an old building so to use the washroom you had to go down two flights of stairs. The dining area is small also. But it's a pretty space. As mentioned above we asked for one long table to seat 15 people. I was expecting square tables but it was a bunch of small round tables pushed together. So the tables were really crowded with food from all the dishes. But the servers made sure to take empty serving dishes away as soon as possible. The music was a little loud for me so I had to yell to be heard. The place was packed though. Everyone at our table enjoyed the food, the service & atmosphere. The restaurant is close to Roy Thompson Hall & the other theatres nearby so it's a convenient location as well. It's too bad this place is only open for dinner. I would have loved to see how they would operate a lunch time service. In any case, Byblos was amazing. I would come back here again to try other dishes! Note: Some of my pics of the main dishes didn't turn out so it's mostly desserts that are pictures

Really enjoyed my night at Byblos. The vibe is super chic but not too formal. I love that the menu…read moreis designed for sharing, so you get to try a little bit of everything. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well-balanced. Also loved the cocktails. Great spot if you're looking for something a bit different from the usual dinner places.

Sofra Istanbul - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...