You know a restaurant is good when their menu is simple and they only specialize in one thing- cag kebab. We came on a weekday evening for dinner and found a line already forming around 6PM. Despite the crowd, there was a quick turnaround, and we were able to get seated quickly after only 10 minutes of waiting. We ordered the cag kebab wrap, soup of the day (lentil soup), and a side of salad. The kebab was nicely seasoned, with each bite delivering a rich, savory flavor. I also loved all the Turkish lentil soups and this one was no exception- it's tangy, savory and extremely comforting to drink on a cold night. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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On a culinary tour in Istanbul, Turkey with Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street. They guided us through the markets, gave us historical highlights and fed us at all levels from fine dining, food stall and street vendors. All of the places have been vetted by our guides as they share a personal connection with the very friendly vendors. Sehzade Cag Kebap was hands down, the best lamb kabobs I've ever had. The staff here are rock stars, smiling, engaging with patrons and welcoming everyone to stick your head into the kitchen and view the succulent wheel of lamb meat. Your sense heighten as you sit and get ready to eat one of the best lamb dishes I've ever had. This feeling was shared with several members of our tour. Language could of been an issue here, but the smiling and friendly staff watched intensely as we inhaled their delicious entree. Their condiments were onions, red pepper paste, pomegranate molasses, tomatoes and plenty of homemade bread. They allow the star, "savory lamb meat" to be featured and not be buried by the accutramonts. It is a truely stunning dish and voted #9 in the world for best kabob. If you are in the market of the Old City, please look up Sehzade Cag Kebap, your taste buds will thank you. To the amazing team, excited about their talented skills, thank you for this incredible meal. Great quality food, we will return! read more

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This is a highly regarded kebab place in the heart of the old city. Fast service and delicious kebab. Staff is courteous and reasonably priced. Always packed so just make your way in! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - The kebab spit. - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Heard about this place on Tiktok and knew it was a must during my quick trip to Turkey. The restaurant is decent sized, though it does get really crowded. Buy they do a good job in fitting as many people as they can. It is indoor AND outdoor seating (I didn't see any other review mention the is seating). The menu is super simple with just one entree and a few appetizers; they bring all of it out to you. So, you don't even really need to look at a menu. They move quick; we were in & out within 30 minutes. And the food is absolutely delicious. I definitely recommend. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Visited on a Friday night around 7pm with a friend. Place was packed but a few open spots were available so we were seated pretty quickly. Food: Cag Kebab plate which came with two skewers of grilled lamb and two thin pieces of flatbread along with sumac onions. Lamb was well cooked, fairly tender with a nice char, pieces were nice an bite size, two was the perfect portion for a light dinner. Flatbread was great, nice tender chew great for creating little wraps. Onions and sumac added additional layers of texture and flavor which were nice that you could build them into each bite if you wanted the sharpness of the onion and acidity from the sumac. Tomato Cucumber Salad - Nice and refreshing, this added freshness and balance to the grilled lamb. Spicy Tomato Sauce - Not very spicy, wish this has a touch more heat, but nice to have a bright tangy sauce to accompany the grilled lamb. Service was no frills, quick and efficient with a super simple menu. They sometimes even walk around with the side dishes & dessert, you can just let them know which items you want. Overall a great spot for Cag Kebab, fairly priced and really quick and easy meal. Would recommend giving this spot a visit if you're in Istanbul. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Cag Kebab plate, spicy tomato sauce, cucumber and tomato salad. - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This restaurant is a must when in Istanbul! The location is centered in the old city where you can feel the culture with every step you take down the road! The staff here are really friendly and even if you don't know Turkish, just point to the pictures on the menu and they'll take care of ya! The food comes out quickly! The meat is cooked really well and perfectly chewy. Get your own plate to yourself and enjoy the meat with the flat bread and veggies! You'll want to be back for more. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

You know they take their kebabs seriously here because it's literally the only thing they have on their menu (in addition to some side dishes). We ordered the kebab and kebab wrap and I was mindblown by how good it was -- the meat literally melts in your mouth, with a perfectly charred exterior and tender/juicy interior...and literally no game-y taste at all from the lamb. Would definitely recommend getting the salad and yogurt as well so you can make your own wraps with the lavash it comes with. I was particularly blown away by the yogurt it was so good both on its own and as a condiment. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Before anything else this is not a kebab restaurant so don't come here if you want kebab. I know it has kebab in its name but it's really just gyro meat sliced and placed on skewers so if you expect different kinds of kebabs this is not it. I have no idea why it's so popular among tourists and why tourist rate this place so high. First the place is tiny and packed so you may have to go upstairs but it's still crowded. The service is alright but at least it's efficient. The menu is very small and once again they only have the gyro on skewers they call kebab but if you have had any other kebab you'll be disappointed. It doesn't taste bad but just not that good for anything more than 3 stars. Go to a real kebab restaurant in Turkey. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Cag Kebab - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Loved the restaurant. It has a bit of a hall in the wall kind of feel, but totally worth visiting. The menu is very simple with only like 5 items. However, they do a really good job making those dishes. Plus, the food is priced reasonably and plates are decent size. The service was fast as well. Definitely recommend! read more

If I had to choose one restaurant I'm going to HIGHLY recommend in Istanbul, this is it. Truly 5 stars across all boards. You'll find this 100% local-type restaurant on a very busy street surrounded by tons of people and liveliness. We were seated immediately; you may need to share a table if you sit outside, which captures the community-type feel of this restaurant. However, there is seating indoors as well. The servers were so kind and attentive throughout our entire meal. The menu is limited, yet they've mastered everything served. It's very straightforward -- you know EXACTLY what you're going to get and it is absolutely delicious. The prices are also very affordable. We ordered almost everything off the menu -- the soup, salad, yogurt, cag kebab, and the cag kebab wrap. AND, we ordered seconds. It's definitely crucial to order at least 1 order of the yogurt per pair of people in your party because it's paired so well with the kebab and honestly just by itself as well. We had such a great experience, with much of it due to the the quality of the food and the amazing service. I plan on coming back to eat here ASAP!!!! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Very good cag kebab! For those who haven't tried, cag kebab refers to kebab preparation where there is layered lamb meat and fat roasting on a horizontal spit. The portions are apparently smaller, likely as the meat is far more pricey. We started off with a lentil soup, which was slightly gritty and not super seasoned / salty. We ordered two portions of the cag, which came with white onions and some tomatoes. To amp up the flavour, we also got a spicy tomato dip - which was very good and complimented the lamb perfectly! The cag was indeed quite small; there were two small skewers and two thin pieces of lavash. It was very gamey and delicious! You could taste the char and flavour. As it wasn't a big portion, we were able to try other things after, but do be warned... it isn't cheap for its size. They also charge 5 EUR for water (served in sealed transparent plastic cups) read more

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Amazing lamb kebobs! Tender, flavorful meat with with a lightly charred exterior and wonderful accoutrements. This busy, non-stop place is must stop in the old city! read more

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If you're a fan of lamb, this is a must-try! The food is fantastic. Make sure to get a few orders as they only serve one item on the menu. Also, keep in mind that they'll bring you all the sides, which you'll be charged for at the end. Was throughly happy with the food though. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This place is fantastic! A hidden gem for sure. They offer a very limited menu with around 6 items (2 of which are mains, the rest of which are sides). While this may seem as being a limitation I truly believe the chefs have mastered the kabaps here. Truly delicious and a great Smokey flavor The surroundings are busy, and at times can get busy depending on when you come. At peak hours it is not uncommon to share tables with others which can lead to some good opportunities to make new friends! The servers are attentive and friendly. They also are very quick in service. Definitely worth a stop here if you're in Istanbul! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Spicy dipping sauce - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Hands down one of the best meals we had in Istanbul. The cağ kebap was insanely good--perfectly seasoned, juicy, and carved right off the spit. Simple menu, but they do it so well. Super quick service and such a cool, authentic vibe. read more

Restaurant basically only has 1 thing on the menu so you know it has to be good! Really juicy and tasty lamb! Super fast service. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Salad and spicy tomato dip - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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The original home of the lamb kebab. Watch the master build the kebab and then enjoy this flavorful, tasty sandwich. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Workers at work - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This is a very popular traditional doner kebap place with a limited menu. We went at lunch on our first day in Istanbul and the very efficient staff fit us int o two seats at a shared table. Because of the limited menu, the food comes pretty quickly. Doner meat with good sides, spiced onions, tomatoes, etc. Our hotel recommended it and it was very good, not fancy, not expensive. Mostly outdoor seating in a narrow street filled with other kebap places and a small pathway between the tables. Try it, you'll like it! read more

Amazing kebab!! The food was so good and came out quickly. The staff was friendly and nice. I can't wait to go back! read more

They serve the precursor of what the kebab would become. It was actually pretty damn good! Granted they give you a fairly small amount of meat through skewers for a pricy amount, but the taste justified it enough for me. Not too many places serve it from what I saw. Service is a little weird about pushing other items in you by placing stuff directly on the table, but simply but firmly say no and they will remove it. Also, even though youd think the food process would be quick, it's a little slower to receive your food than any typical kebab place. read more

With just six items on the menu Şehzade Cağ Kebap is nevertheless perpetually busy, the frenetic pace of nearby streets creating a scene quite unlike many while guests sit down to enjoy what many consider to be Istanbul's best Lamb Kebap. Serving Erzurum-style Lamb from a jumbo-size horizontal spit, the lengthy marinade assuring every bit is juicy save for crispy bits kissed by flame, additions include fiery peppers plus cooling Yogurt and sliced Onions intended to be eaten on paper-thin Lavash. Also offering crushed Tomatoes and Salad for 40 Lira, and housemade Soup for those in the mood, service is fast paced such that a meal lasts perhaps thirty minutes but that certainly isn't a reason to forgo stuffed Kadayif featuring Honey and Walnuts and a compelling texture. read more

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The horizontal kebab was brought fast , fresh sizzling from the seekh and was astounding in taste. Beautiful ! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Horizontal kebab - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Small menu and plenty of locals dining here still so prices seemed fair. You can order skewers + the wrap and then dyi rolls by adding the salad, onion, or spicy sauce. You can order additional skewers after a la carte as well. Tastiest I've had so far. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This place was a hidden gem. We came here because a friend of ours who is a local and had been living here for many years after moving from Iran recommended the place as one of the best restaurants in the entire area. She said it was better than Nusrat's which as an AmericN who appreciates steaks-- might be a stretch lol. This eatery has been featured in many publications and is very affordable. It's also located near the Grand Bazaar in a busy little alley so great for people watching while not being bothered as you eat. What makes this place so beloved is the friendliness of the staff (they're so on top of service and are more than happy to take pictures and let you take pics of the food). The best part - the meat. I'm not a big meat eater and even I loved the flavor of the kebaps. They tasted super smokey and were VERY juicy. The meat gets its l flavor from the fresh charcoal that it's cooked over and is rotated horizontally Vs the traditional vertical read more

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genuinely probably one of my favourite meals of all time. probably the greatest bite of lamb i've had. servers are friendly and nice. ambiance there ain't much as it's mostly communal tables on the street but the food is DELICIOUS. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - kebab - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This place was recommended by a local and was legit. It was crowded and there were tourists as it's a touristy area, but it is famous for their authentic lamb kebab that is very succulent. Limited menu and service is what it is for Istanbul but go for the lamb as it was very good. read more

To the person that wrote that it's "not real kabob," you're completely wrong. It's real cağ kebab! Very good, served fast and hot with onion/sumac and salad sides. Keep in mind that that's essentially the only thing on the menu except maybe a lentil soup. You really literally can't go wrong here! Service is efficient but a bit brusque, and at a number of shared tables. read more

The spicy tomato salsa takes this kebab to another level, do not skip it! So delicious read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

We came to this street vendor per the good reviews by vbloggers n YouTubers. Not disappointed at all, Çorba (soup), Ezme (spicy tomato paste) and of course Cag kebab (lamb doner kebab with pita wraps. Simply delicious. Anyone visiting Istanbul should visit this joint if you like to try a local street food. read more

Sehzade Cag Kebap was very, very, VERY hyped up leading up to my visit to Istanbul. Friends and colleagues said it was the best in town, but after a visit following what was a blowout positive experience at nearby Buhara Ocakbasi Restaurant I thought Sehzade Cag was just okay. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? Sehzade Cag is efficient. The menu is simple to the point of being a picture book, and the dishes (there's really only one with sides) come out nearly immediately. No complaints. Star Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? The pricing at Sehzade is a bit confusing given the kebab itself is only $2.75, but you'll of course want all of the sides from the onions and spicy tomato sauce to dessert. Even so, it will run you maybe $6.00 USD tops, which is just absurdly cheap. Star. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Everything at Sehzade was just okay in my mind. The kebab itself was fresh off the spit and wonderfully tender, but the flavor in my mind leaned on the onion and sauce, which is a contrast to what I had had elsewhere in Istanbul. The dessert fell well short of expectation especially since there is so much amazing baklava and comparable dishes nearby. Single Star. Star 5: Would you be excited to go back? I liked Sehzade Cag, but there are much better kebabs in town. No Star. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Cag Kebap: 20.00 TL - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This spot is on my top Ten Restaurants in Istanbul and its a must try. Easy going vibe, great location, with nice outside seatings. these guys serve horizontal lamb doner on woodier. the flavors have been elevated with smokiness and sophistication that I won't be able to deliver it without you trying it out for yourself. it comes with thin bread and a side of chilly paste thats killer. moreover, Its reasonable priced and quality is profound. read more

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On New Year's Eve, a local İstanbullu recommended şehzade çağ kebap to me so I went. It's located in Istanbul's Fatih down a side street near the T1 Sirkeci stop. Since the weather was nice, I sat down outside and watched the çağ kebabı cook. As soon as I sat down, the garson told me what was available and I said I wanted the çağ kebabı. Another garson then came over with a plate of sides and asked what I wanted. I asked for the salad, ezme, and spiced onions. I wasn't sure how much I could eat so I only asked for two çağ kebaplar. Be sure to tell the garsonlar when you have had enough or else they will bring you more. This was my first experience eating çağ kebab and it was phenomenal. I highly recommend trying it if you're in Istanbul. It's a bit expensive if you're a local, but as a foreigner, it's very affordable. I will definitely visit again. read more

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Apparently it's one of those local 'can't miss' food staples in IST, so came to check it out. The presentation of a horizontaly rotating meat stick on wood fire is not something can be seen often, so it's definitely captivating. There is a very limited selection of dishes on the menu, mostly sides to accompany the kebab. Meat porsion is relatively small, size of a snack at most, consisting of two skewers Of tender lamb, greasy, smokey flavor. Does it taste good? Yes Is it so much better than the kabab next door? - probably not. Overhyped in my opinion. read more

My husband and I visited the restaurant while in Istanbul. We loved it, one of the best meals we had in Istanbul, affordable and clean. Staff was nice, helpful and patient with non Turkish speaking guest. They serve meat in sets of 2 with bread and salad. I suggest anyone to get meat w/ bread, salad of onion sumac and yogurt drink ayran. Great great! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This was maybe a good place for a quick eat. We stopped here just to try what we saw. The menu option was entirely limited with only a few to choose from. Wife really liked it, except the meats they served were full of gristle/fat, so I was pealing some of that off. The meat was still pretty good, tender, & juicy. The service was ok. But the kicker was the tea and when I started drinking that, I felt light-headed and didn't have the hunger I had once I sat down. We left and I would maybe visit this place again if I wanted something fast to eat but the feeling after that tea made me a bit uncomfortable. read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Stumbled across this place while looking for the dance show at the cultural center around the back. The open spit with lamb roasting horizontally caught our eye, so we had to go in. We sat in the small area upstairs, and it was rather plain with simple furniture and tiled walls, and the glass tabletops covered tons of newspaper articles about how great this place was. Fantastic food with succulent slices of lamb meat roasted on a horizontal spit, crunchy tomato-and-cucumber shepherd's salad, thick buffalo milk yogurt, lavash bread, the requisite Ayran for every meal, and a gooey and sweet Kadayif Dolma paired with Turkish tea rounded out our meal at Şehzade Erzurum Cağ Kebabı. The only complaint from my guy friends were that they wished they got more food! read more

Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Lamb meat, shepherd's salad, buffalo milk yogurt, chili paste, lavash bread, Ayran - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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This is borderline street food in a small bazaar area. No-frills, quick service. Very small menu (7 items), but that's all you need/want. Ambiance is 100% local, and the food is fantastic! Might be a little overwhelming for first-time western travelers, but if you keep an open mind, savor the sights and sounds, and have an empty stomach, it is one magical experience! read more

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Excellent horizontal cag kebab in Istanbul. Easy to find in a central location (close to Hafiz Mustafa). Friendly and quick service at very affordable prices. Straight up hole-in-the-wall. It will be crowded and noisy, you come to an eatery like this then expect it. The lamb meat was just absolutely phenomenal! The skewers have that perfect blend of melt in your mouth charred fat, salted meat and juices. Pair the morsels of lamb meat with a roasted pepper, onions and that spicy tomato sauce and it's on! They gave us complimentary chay after our meal. I'm not a big eater and 4 lamb skewers weren't enough for me. If you're an eater, get at least 6 skewers for yourself! Be sure to sit outside by the rotating slab of meat so you can absorb the smell of heaven in you. read more

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We found this place by accident. My spouse liked how the meat looked on the spit so we sat down, and then the crowds came. Poor guy across the street selling the same thing had zero business, has been in business longer according to their signs, and had his employees sit at the tables to try and draw in business. It didn't work the entire time we were eating. ATMOSPHERE: The tiny restaurant has covered sidewalk seating only and is great for people watching. They're located near the spice market. We did have a peddler with her child come up to the tables asking for money while she played the accordion. MENU: Kebabs! FOOD: Red Bean Lentil Soup - It was orange in color and tasted very good. A medium savory with a nice amount of lentils and more soup, not too thick either. Lamb Cag Kebab - The cag style of kebab is an old school way of cooking the meat horizontally on the spit rather than vertically. Well it was THE BEST we've had in Istanbul! Super tender and tons of natural flavor. It came with sides of yogurt, spicy couscous and lava, which we made into a burrito and devoured it. SERVICE: All the guys were friendly and food delivery was quick. OVERALL: Excellent food, normal prices. They even won an award on Trip Advisor! read more

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After seeing this place on Mark Wiens youtube program, I bookmarked it as a "must try" during my visit to Istanbul. The schwarma was okay at best. Certainly not the tender melt in your mouth morsels Mark made it out to be. The meat was chewy and some was a little grizzly. I give it a 2.5 overall. They rushed us in and rushed us out because there were the hordes waiting behind us. I guess most everybody still loves it. For me, it was one and done. read more