The Khorasani
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Came here for my first dinner when touching down in Istanbul. I know it has been a Michelin awarded restaurant so I had high expectations. I got the mixed meat plate, it was really good, but I wish the portions were a bit bigger. The starting appetizer plate was delicious along with the Turkish bread. The staff was great, very attentive to all our needs and always refilling our waters promptly whenever empty. The dessert was good, the baklava was a good texture and went well with the ice cream. Great first dinner stop in Turkey!
First of all, it's not Michelin restaurant. It's probably on the Michelin guide but definitely not a Michelin one star restaurant so don't be fooled thinking it is. For me anything not Michelin one star or above is not considered a Michelin restaurant. Of course the price is also not Michelin star restaurant which is great. However note that the price is mostly for tourists so you are paying European price so prepared to pay more than local restaurants. I did try both the spicy eastern goulash which is not spicy at all so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a kick and the meat tastes so so. The pistachio kebob is actually decent and supposed it's a recipe from the sultans. It is interesting to have pistachio embedded in the meat and overall it's pretty delicious. I do wish there are more fat in the kebob as it would be a lot juicier. The puffy bread is really good. Tastes like naan. Overall it's an alright experience and wouldn't say it's a miss albeit slightly more expensive than the quality.
We've been lucky enough to spend a few days touring Istanbul and our guide suggested we have lunch at Khorasani. WONDERFUL food right in the Faith District in the Old City. We had the lamb & pistachio kebab; the lamb on a bed of yogurt-baba-ganoush; the mahummara meze and the eggplant stuffed with vegetables meze. Exceptionally good food and service! And the conversion-rate made this a surprisingly reasonable meal, considering the talent!
After trying a few different restaurants in the area, we stumbled upon this gem in the heart of Istanbul. The food is superb, with every dish we tried made to perfection. Although we explored other options in the neighborhood, we collectively decided that Khorasani was by far the best of all. The restaurant is reasonably priced for the location and is worth every penny.
Khorasani was the lunch stop for our walking tour and it was a good choice. Turkish, but mainstream enough that anyone who thinks they like Turkish food will be okay. It wasn't too busy when our party of eight dropped in and they did a good job of managing our orders, getting our drinks straight (Efes!) and chopping up the checks nicely. As for the food, well, I'll just say it was great. The salad was okay, the pita was excellent and the spicy kebab was "spicy tasty" not "spicy hot". Rice was excellent and the baklava for dessert was excellent. And all around really good meal.
My friend and I loved this place so much, we went two nights in a row. The second night was his birthday so he didn't want to take any chances of a having a bad experience somewhere else. I couldn't blame him. From the enormous, fresh, complementary bread to the color and flavor of the cold appetizer trey, to the attentiveness to filling up you wine glass, to checking up on you after your food is served, the whole experience here is impeccable. The service was professional, confident, inviting and incredibly friendly. They were so happy to see us two nights in a row, and when I told them it was my friend's birthday, I was not expecting them to turn the 'Happy Birthday' song on the restaurant's speakers and bring out a colorful, candle lit dessert, followed by a full staff. Felt like we were right back at home. Khorasani understands how to cater to tourists, and apparently the owner knows how to corner his market (he owns 3 other restaurants side by side, all on the same street). The decor here is very modern and the charcoal grill in the middle of the restaurant is very cozy. The same goes for the sofa seating they offer outdoors under the heat lamp. I highly recommend this place to anyone staying in the Fatih district of Istanbul. I might even go out of my way to eat here if you're staying further away. Bravo!
Khorasani stands out even in the midst of tourist-catering restaurant! While it also catered mainly toward tourists, this restaurant nonetheless makes an excellent meal stop because of its delicious dishes, generous additions, and good service. After a long intercontinental flight, I wanted a quick meal near the Blue Mosque and my prior research pointed me to this restaurant based on past positive reviews. As soon as I sat down and ordered my dish, I was greeted with a small basket of bread with garlic hummus dip. Initially, I suspected that this was a trick to tack on extra charge, but the waiter ensure that it's on the house! I tried the bread with the dip, and loved the softness of the bread and the garlic savory taste of the hummus dip. It was a good start to my first meal in Turkey - and to think that I used to dislike hummus in the US! Then my entree of Adana kebab arrived. Made from finely-grounded lamb meat, the Adana kebab was surprisingly filling and packed with flavors, even though it looked deceptively small-portioned and unremarkable. On the same plate, the included rice pilaf was another delicious surprise with subtle flavors and the salad vegetable was fresh and crisp. For about 30 TL, the dish was a delicious mini feast! When I asked for the bill, the waiter asked if I would like a cup of tea and knowing my suspicious nature, added that it's complimentary. At first I declined but as I was paying my bill, I noticed that everyone - locals and tourists - around me had a tulip-shaped cup of tea and it dawned upon me that tea was an important drink in Turkey (a fact that I verified later in my trip) so I changed my mind and requested for the tea. Even after I paid my bill, the waiter without hesitation brought me the complimentary tea to end my meal. Overall, the total charge was 36 TL, which included water and 10% service. While it's the typical cost of a meal especially in the Sultanhamet area, you certainly would get more food from the same price because of the complimentary bread, hummus, and tea. In addition, the meal here remains one of the best I had in Istanbul and is comparable to the authentic meal I had outside the tourist district, so I definitely recommend dining here when you need a nice sit-down meal in Sultanahmet.
Pricey but loved it - food was good but they need to improve their customer service - we were four people and i asked for some clarification which they didn't feel like explaining us. However the quality of food was goos.
I visited this restaurant for dinner in Feb 2016 during a one-night stay in Istanbul. Complimentary bread is given and was the highlight. We ordered hummus, lahmacun (Turkish pizza), beef main, and a Coke. I guess there was some sort of miscommunication because instead of the beef main, we received a Kofte app. We decided that a light meal was fine so didn't even bring it up to the server. I found the food to be ok, but nothing special. I later noticed a 10% surcharge on the receipt... this wasn't on my lunch receipt so seems to be a forced tip rather than tax, so be mindful of this. Total bill was 46 TL / 23 Canadian dollars.
Perfect quaint little cafe right off the main street in Sulthanamet - the area is called Fatih. But, you would never guess that you're off the main street, which is loud and bustling with cars, as the tree lined street that this restaurant sits on is very quiet and seemed to be closed to anything but foot-traffic. Very convenient if you're staying at the Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (http://bit.ly/15ietbM) or in the vicinity of the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia. Khorasani boasts the largest and most colorful selection of mezes to go with their GIGANTIC hot bread "pouf". Loved their Cacik (the traditional yogurt, dill, cucumber dip) the best of all the ones we tried in Turkey. The spicy hot salad and the Anatolian olive tray are amazing dishes along with the lentil balls. And definitely, don't miss the olive oil tasting! This was the only restaurant that we ate, literally, an entire dinner of mezes - so tasty. We sat outside on the street both evenings. It was comfortable, and when the sun went down, we utilized the throws that are on each seat at the tables. That made for a PERFECT EVENING! The staff is very attentive, making sure that my glass was full and my bread basket topped off with that hot pouf at all times! Of all the places we dined in Turkey, Khorasani is my favorite (and I can't wait to go back)!
One of my favorite restaurants during a recent trip to Turkey! This place had both great service and great food! My favorite dishes were the baked humus and minced lamb with pistachio and cheese kebob. Dishes were very well prepared and fresh. Reasonably priced and located on a beautiful cobble stone block. Great for groups and dates
Lives up the the hype- great Turkish food. We ordered the meze to start, which they brought out with their complimentary bread. It was amazing and you should definitely order it. There were two different types of yogurt dip, hummus, eggplant dip, a spicy tomato, onion, and garlic dip, and something called muhamamara. The muhamamara was my favorite dip of all; it was a mix of walnuts, paprika, tomato, and garlic and super spicy. I could eat that all day. For the main course, I ordered the Mediterranean salad which was delicious. One thing I've noticed about the Turkish restaurants is that they serve entree sized portions of salad. It was SO filling and refreshing and simply a wonderful excuse to drown myself in the pomegranate dressing they serve. The rest of the party ordered the minced beef and lamb kabob which came with a pilaf, bread, and a side salad. No complaints from them about it. My mom said the pilaf was "really good". I recommend this place to tourists looking for some good food.
Wow the hotel concierge was right, best lamb I've had in a while!!! It's not necessarily a touristy place although they are right near the Hagia Sophia, but waiters are very friendly and their English is good. Got there a little before noon with just myself and another table. Thirty minutes later the place was packed. Great to sit outside and people watch.
The Khorasani was a restaurant chosen by our guide during our day tour around Istanbul. The space felt open and breezy even though we sat inside and I loved that they had air conditioning. I did feel like the salad with chicken I ordered was incredibly meat heavy with very little salad and I didn't love that the bell peppers included aren't listed on the menu, but their hummus was mouthwateringly delicious. The service was prompt and the meal came with gratis baklava and ice cream as well as tea, but I didn't partake since we were walking so much. All in all, it was a good meal but definitely a bit different than expected from the menu. read more
So delicious! Great service and a nice welcome, too. The mixed grill was absolutely wonderful. And I love how they serve the fresh bread....it's all puffy and then magically deflates as it cools. The patio is wonderful and they have a nicely decorated interior dining room with a Byzantine theme, as well as an open kitchen and grill where you can watch them cook the delicious kebabs and meats. They offered us a delicious baklava and ice cream as a "free" dessert. Plus the prices are not bad, considering it's in such a touristic area. It's about half what I paid at some other places. Service is great. The food is very fresh. Highly recommend if you are in Fatih or nearby in the Sultanahmet area. read more
1 year ago
Great dinner! We had the appetizer sampler, very tasty. We also had the halloumi salad and octopus. Both were tasty. We shared the meat sampler for two, loads of meat! Everything was very tasty and cooked perfectly. I'd definitely recommend a stop! read more
2 years ago
Came here for my first dinner when touching down in Istanbul. I know it has been a Michelin awarded restaurant so I had high expectations. I got the mixed meat plate, it was really good, but I wish the portions were a bit bigger. The starting appetizer plate was delicious along with the Turkish bread. The staff was great, very attentive to all our needs and always refilling our waters promptly whenever empty. The dessert was good, the baklava was a good texture and went well with the ice cream. Great first dinner stop in Turkey! read more
6 months ago
First of all, it's not Michelin restaurant. It's probably on the Michelin guide but definitely not a Michelin one star restaurant so don't be fooled thinking it is. For me anything not Michelin one star or above is not considered a Michelin restaurant. Of course the price is also not Michelin star restaurant which is great. However note that the price is mostly for tourists so you are paying European price so prepared to pay more than local restaurants. I did try both the spicy eastern goulash which is not spicy at all so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a kick and the meat tastes so so. The pistachio kebob is actually decent and supposed it's a recipe from the sultans. It is interesting to have pistachio embedded in the meat and overall it's pretty delicious. I do wish there are more fat in the kebob as it would be a lot juicier. The puffy bread is really good. Tastes like naan. Overall it's an alright experience and wouldn't say it's a miss albeit slightly more expensive than the quality. read more
We've been lucky enough to spend a few days touring Istanbul and our guide suggested we have lunch at Khorasani. WONDERFUL food right in the Faith District in the Old City. We had the lamb & pistachio kebab; the lamb on a bed of yogurt-baba-ganoush; the mahummara meze and the eggplant stuffed with vegetables meze. Exceptionally good food and service! And the conversion-rate made this a surprisingly reasonable meal, considering the talent! read more
2 years ago
After trying a few different restaurants in the area, we stumbled upon this gem in the heart of Istanbul. The food is superb, with every dish we tried made to perfection. Although we explored other options in the neighborhood, we collectively decided that Khorasani was by far the best of all. The restaurant is reasonably priced for the location and is worth every penny. read more
Khorasani was the lunch stop for our walking tour and it was a good choice. Turkish, but mainstream enough that anyone who thinks they like Turkish food will be okay. It wasn't too busy when our party of eight dropped in and they did a good job of managing our orders, getting our drinks straight (Efes!) and chopping up the checks nicely. As for the food, well, I'll just say it was great. The salad was okay, the pita was excellent and the spicy kebab was "spicy tasty" not "spicy hot". Rice was excellent and the baklava for dessert was excellent. And all around really good meal. read more
My friend and I loved this place so much, we went two nights in a row. The second night was his birthday so he didn't want to take any chances of a having a bad experience somewhere else. I couldn't blame him. From the enormous, fresh, complementary bread to the color and flavor of the cold appetizer trey, to the attentiveness to filling up you wine glass, to checking up on you after your food is served, the whole experience here is impeccable. The service was professional, confident, inviting and incredibly friendly. They were so happy to see us two nights in a row, and when I told them it was my friend's birthday, I was not expecting them to turn the 'Happy Birthday' song on the restaurant's speakers and bring out a colorful, candle lit dessert, followed by a full staff. Felt like we were right back at home. Khorasani understands how to cater to tourists, and apparently the owner knows how to corner his market (he owns 3 other restaurants side by side, all on the same street). The decor here is very modern and the charcoal grill in the middle of the restaurant is very cozy. The same goes for the sofa seating they offer outdoors under the heat lamp. I highly recommend this place to anyone staying in the Fatih district of Istanbul. I might even go out of my way to eat here if you're staying further away. Bravo! read more
3 years ago
Khorasani stands out even in the midst of tourist-catering restaurant! While it also catered mainly toward tourists, this restaurant nonetheless makes an excellent meal stop because of its delicious dishes, generous additions, and good service. After a long intercontinental flight, I wanted a quick meal near the Blue Mosque and my prior research pointed me to this restaurant based on past positive reviews. As soon as I sat down and ordered my dish, I was greeted with a small basket of bread with garlic hummus dip. Initially, I suspected that this was a trick to tack on extra charge, but the waiter ensure that it's on the house! I tried the bread with the dip, and loved the softness of the bread and the garlic savory taste of the hummus dip. It was a good start to my first meal in Turkey - and to think that I used to dislike hummus in the US! Then my entree of Adana kebab arrived. Made from finely-grounded lamb meat, the Adana kebab was surprisingly filling and packed with flavors, even though it looked deceptively small-portioned and unremarkable. On the same plate, the included rice pilaf was another delicious surprise with subtle flavors and the salad vegetable was fresh and crisp. For about 30 TL, the dish was a delicious mini feast! When I asked for the bill, the waiter asked if I would like a cup of tea and knowing my suspicious nature, added that it's complimentary. At first I declined but as I was paying my bill, I noticed that everyone - locals and tourists - around me had a tulip-shaped cup of tea and it dawned upon me that tea was an important drink in Turkey (a fact that I verified later in my trip) so I changed my mind and requested for the tea. Even after I paid my bill, the waiter without hesitation brought me the complimentary tea to end my meal. Overall, the total charge was 36 TL, which included water and 10% service. While it's the typical cost of a meal especially in the Sultanhamet area, you certainly would get more food from the same price because of the complimentary bread, hummus, and tea. In addition, the meal here remains one of the best I had in Istanbul and is comparable to the authentic meal I had outside the tourist district, so I definitely recommend dining here when you need a nice sit-down meal in Sultanahmet. read more
8 years ago
Pricey but loved it - food was good but they need to improve their customer service - we were four people and i asked for some clarification which they didn't feel like explaining us. However the quality of food was goos. read more
I visited this restaurant for dinner in Feb 2016 during a one-night stay in Istanbul. Complimentary bread is given and was the highlight. We ordered hummus, lahmacun (Turkish pizza), beef main, and a Coke. I guess there was some sort of miscommunication because instead of the beef main, we received a Kofte app. We decided that a light meal was fine so didn't even bring it up to the server. I found the food to be ok, but nothing special. I later noticed a 10% surcharge on the receipt... this wasn't on my lunch receipt so seems to be a forced tip rather than tax, so be mindful of this. Total bill was 46 TL / 23 Canadian dollars. read more
13 years ago
Perfect quaint little cafe right off the main street in Sulthanamet - the area is called Fatih. But, you would never guess that you're off the main street, which is loud and bustling with cars, as the tree lined street that this restaurant sits on is very quiet and seemed to be closed to anything but foot-traffic. Very convenient if you're staying at the Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (http://bit.ly/15ietbM) or in the vicinity of the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia. Khorasani boasts the largest and most colorful selection of mezes to go with their GIGANTIC hot bread "pouf". Loved their Cacik (the traditional yogurt, dill, cucumber dip) the best of all the ones we tried in Turkey. The spicy hot salad and the Anatolian olive tray are amazing dishes along with the lentil balls. And definitely, don't miss the olive oil tasting! This was the only restaurant that we ate, literally, an entire dinner of mezes - so tasty. We sat outside on the street both evenings. It was comfortable, and when the sun went down, we utilized the throws that are on each seat at the tables. That made for a PERFECT EVENING! The staff is very attentive, making sure that my glass was full and my bread basket topped off with that hot pouf at all times! Of all the places we dined in Turkey, Khorasani is my favorite (and I can't wait to go back)! read more
11 years ago
One of my favorite restaurants during a recent trip to Turkey! This place had both great service and great food! My favorite dishes were the baked humus and minced lamb with pistachio and cheese kebob. Dishes were very well prepared and fresh. Reasonably priced and located on a beautiful cobble stone block. Great for groups and dates read more
3 years ago
Lives up the the hype- great Turkish food. We ordered the meze to start, which they brought out with their complimentary bread. It was amazing and you should definitely order it. There were two different types of yogurt dip, hummus, eggplant dip, a spicy tomato, onion, and garlic dip, and something called muhamamara. The muhamamara was my favorite dip of all; it was a mix of walnuts, paprika, tomato, and garlic and super spicy. I could eat that all day. For the main course, I ordered the Mediterranean salad which was delicious. One thing I've noticed about the Turkish restaurants is that they serve entree sized portions of salad. It was SO filling and refreshing and simply a wonderful excuse to drown myself in the pomegranate dressing they serve. The rest of the party ordered the minced beef and lamb kabob which came with a pilaf, bread, and a side salad. No complaints from them about it. My mom said the pilaf was "really good". I recommend this place to tourists looking for some good food. read more
12 years ago
Wow the hotel concierge was right, best lamb I've had in a while!!! It's not necessarily a touristy place although they are right near the Hagia Sophia, but waiters are very friendly and their English is good. Got there a little before noon with just myself and another table. Thirty minutes later the place was packed. Great to sit outside and people watch. read more
12 years ago
Very tasteful food indeed. The bbq is delicious. Also free good wifi. Just didn't give 4 stars or more because I thinks it's an ok place. Nothing surprising. No mistakes. Also, my bill was about $40, while I think it worth it about $30. This is because of the drinks, always expensive: a fresh squeezed orange juice for $9 should be forbidden when you can find orange juice on the streets for 50 cents. read more
12 years ago
Not too expensive, friendly personel and good food. Good alternative to all the touristy restaurants nearby. Starter was good but small, free bread was served. Main plate also was good but not very impressive. Overall still 5 stars for beeing better than the rest. Nice food for two under 40 Eur, what should be more. read more
11 years ago
The price is of course tourist price. The food is actually good. And the service is very nice. Even though is a bit pricy. I will definitely come and visit again. Don't see lots of great service in Istanbul. read more
14 years ago
I ate upstairs because there was no downstairs seating available. It's a little hot up there but a welcome break from the bustling streets. There's a large open shish kebab oven downstairs and a nice selection of grilled meats and dishes to choose from. They also have a decent wine selection as well as pasta and vegetarian dishes. This restaurant is more modern and westernized than most others in this area and I would return for lunch or dinner. read more
12 years ago
We went to this Restaurant based on a recomendation (best food) from our Recital Hotel. I am not usually driven by referrals and I choose the places based on ambiance. When we got there after a short walk from Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, we found the restaurant on a curve right across from a construction yard. That didn't look good, since we wanted to sit outside... Luckilly, it wasn't too much traffic, probably the workers were at lunch, as well. Being a chilly afternoon, the host turned on the outdoor heaters and brought us the menus. I am not going to mention anything about the Turkish bread, I saw it in the most of the photos (including mine). Very good! I asked our waiter which dish he recommends and he said, without hesitation "Kele Cosh". Well, this was UNBELIEVABLE, by far the best Turkish dish I had during my stay in Istanbul. Kele Cosh (Traditional Antolian). Ingredients: Chopped lamb, butter & yogurt, mint & bread, baked in the oven, served in terracota pot. If you like lamb meat, this dish is absolutely faboulos! Now I try to find it in Chicago area :) Overall, it was a great experience! read more
11 years ago
Near the Hagia Sophia on a restaurant row. Lots of food places to choose from but this was recommended by a local. Servers were great, very friendly & attentive. Great Turkish dishes & the appetizers were worth ordering. No kids menus but we were able to order 1/2 portion dishes. read more
11 years ago
Had the mix meza plate as an appetizer which includes a sample of seven of their cold items. It was a nice menu selection that allowed us to try a number of different things. All were enjoyable but I preferred the tomato based paste which was a little spicy and the white paste which had a dill flavor. We had a lamb kabob as our main course which was cooked over a coal fired grill in the middle of the restaurant. The meat was tender and had a nice flavor. Overall, the meal was very good and I'd recommend Khorasani for a quick lunch or casual dinner. read more
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