Istanbul was love not just because of the history and architecture but most importantly for its…read morefood. The sweets and savory both are on point. You can actually go to a hole in the wall and get the best kababs or baklava or halwas every eatery is a sheer joy. So this is one of the best places for a kababfest all over Yelp, YouTube influencers backing that and also the most recommended place on internet based reviews. We chose a non busy time it wasn't that packed. This restaurant is not compact but definitely crowded in the sense that tables are very close to one another. The staff is extremely polite, helpful and friendly. We ordered a little bit of everything including liver. Each item was bursting of flavor and the meat used was top notch quality. Price point isn't bad. Do google the menu with pricing and these change quite often in places like Turkey which is a tourist hub. We paid with credit card no issues. The food came out piping hot and within reasonable grilling time. Definitely recommend this place it's a haven for meat lovers I can't wait to go back this is a solid 5 on 5 for me.

Bread was great. The food was not great but not bad. The atmosphere was good…read more Every thing took long to be ready.

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.

Fabulous atmosphere. Great barbecue and fresh foods. Love this Lo o cal stash for authentic Turkish…read morefoods.

We came here for dinner in our second night in Turkey, and thoroughly enjoyed it... we loved the…read morekunefe the most, and it was our favourite out of all the ones we had in Istanbul! The ambiance here is beautiful - hidden in a small alley on a road beside the Galata Tower, there are lights and music that fill up the narrow path here. Outside seating is super quaint, and the inside of the restaurant is nice too, decorated in a very traditional way. We started off with a shepherds salad because I was in desperate need of fibre after two days of straight protein and carbs . It was a simple Mediterranean style salad, with tomato, onions, cucumbers, and parsley. We then shared a chicken shish and, heavily influenced by the meal we had at Antiochia the day prior, a kebab durum. The durum was good - crispy and meaty - but I think we had the best at Antiochia. It lacked a bit of juice. The chicken shish was delicious though; it was tender, moist, and flavourful. The real star, however, was the kunefe. This dessert was by far the best of its kind we've had in Istanbul! It wasn't too sweet, the inside was creamy (and more mild than some other variations we tried), but it was the clotted cream on top and the pistachio crumble that elevated this to another level. The cream made the dish super buttery and fragrant, adding complexity. Would definitely come again just for the kunefe!

We stopped by around 7:30pm on a Friday night and were able to be seated almost immediately after…read morewe said it was okay if we sat outside. They do have a good amount of heat lamps so the cold was tolerable. The food was pretty good. Overpriced by Turkish standards but normal by American standards. We got the Saltbae Burger and one of meat dishes to share. The food itself was pretty good. Service and vibes were okay. It's definitely a place to go more because it's trendy than anything else in the trendy Galataport shopping complex.

Their burgers and fries are very tasty. Didn't have to add salt. Even though we didn't speak…read moreTurkish the staff was attentive and very friendly. I'd come back again! The location was very convenient to our hotel stay

Istanbul is a fascinating cosmopolitan city with tons of eateries spread across its massively…read moresprawling landscape. I spent considerable time researching the ONE restaurant our group of two families (4 adults, 3 kids aged 13-15) would visit during our overnight stop while on the Norwegian Viva cruise ship. I kept coming back to Gulhane Sark Sofrasi while researching and decided this was our spot. After all, it has 5,246 Tripadvisor reviews and is ranked the #5 restaurant in Istanbul. The food, service and outdoor ambience were all fantastic. Oh, the house cat was fantastic, too, and sure was protective of its turf, scaring away any other cats who dared try snagging any dropped food. My gals ordered what I felt were plain (less exotic?) chicken dishes but they really enjoyed them. My daughter chose the Sultan's Favorite. My best buddy's daughter ordered a steak which looked fantastic. His wife ordered an eggplant dish and some protein according to her strict diet (for health reasons) as well as shrimp and grilled veggies. Us boys shared the mixed appetizer plate with delicious dips and dolmas as well as, the recommended "Adana the Classsic" kebab ($16) and some kind of cheesey meaty casserole/stew (either the Dana Guvec or the Kuzu Guvec) ~$23 that was also recommended to us. The kebab was absolutely fantastic although I didn't love the casserole/stew which seemed to me to have less flavor. The dips were awesome, especially the Turkish "salsa". I felt $30 for their House Wine & $16 for a Margarita were a little steep but maybe those are common price points for Istanbul. The entrees too were a little pricier than in mainland Greece but again, Istanbul definitely seemed more advanced and modern. I highly recommend Gulhane Sark Sofrasi and would definitely go back!

Very nice restaurant with live music when we got there. The menu is varied and the staff speaks…read moreEnglish. We got a chicken kebab and a regular kebab. Both were good but a bit salty for our palate. Very friendly staff...as in truly friendly and welcoming......Nice patio dining.

Food was great. We had the asparagus soup. And salmon…read moreentree. Both delicious. Breath taking view and very cool music. Loved it. Will come back.

What a beautiful place. What a view. Makes you forget anything that could be bothering you. We had…read moregreat food. Turkish with a twist. Service was spot on. . Can't wait to go back.

We stopped by this small restaurant after shopping a bit in the streets in the area. At first there…read morewas some confusion since the staff didn't speak English, but then an English speaking woman came. The place looks nice and cozy, with old stone walls and wooden furniture. You could hear the beefs cooking from the kitchen. We ordered four cheeseburger menus and one chicken burger menu. It came with chips and a soft drink. All the burgers were delicious: the meat grilled, fresh tomato, cheese, onions and pickles. The chips were the best we've had yet in Turkey! Excellent food. The menus are priced around 17-25 TL, which is a reasonable price. If you're going to get a burger in Istanbul, this should be the place!

A cozy place tucked in a corner near the modern art museum. Walked in right at the time when the…read moreplace opened up. Ordered the salad , Meze mix , lamp chops and the seafood pilaf. Everything was delicious , just the right portion size and well presented. The staff is very courteous , ambience is very cozy and a place destress and enjoy some good food. Versatile menu and something for everyone to enjoy. Do check this place out if in the neighborhood !

in a word - FANTASTIC!! We went there under a recommendation from our instructor at the Istanbul…read moreCooking School and he was spot on. WOW, what an amazing dinner we had. We decided to splurge and go for the 200tl tasting menu for 2 which included 5 cold mezze, one warm one, 2 entrees, and a desert. It was a ton of food and thank goodness they had doggie bags so we could bring some of it home. All of it was absolutely delicious. We also really love the cozy ambiance and the local neighborhood feel of the restaurant. It wasn't a tourist trap at all. Highly recommend!