A must visit while in Istanbul. The kebab was incredible with amazing service and they were able to help us English speakers as well.

Çiya Sofrası and Kebab occupy opposite sides of a busy street in Kadıköy where Chef and owner Musa Dağdeviren has created a destination for not only grilled Meats and Mezze but also a lively atmosphere. Part of Istanbul's Anatolian coast, the Kebab Restaurant later giving way to Çiya Sofrası and its fame, guests here are situated across three floors where the menu offers a well-culled list of items prepared traditionally including complex Mercimek Corbası and golden Dumplings generously stuffed with ground Meat. A growing business with three locations, all a few meters apart, Ciya's Lahmacun arrives beautifully crisp with Toppings well-balanced while Spicy Lamb Kebab doesn't hold back in its liberal application of Peppers. Part of the dining scene since 1998, five men in an open kitchen working fast on the ground floor, Babaganoush is served more chunky than those elsewhere and whether one choose this or the signature Ciya Kebab wrapped in Pastry the results are impressive across-the-board. read more

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This is only one of the only restaurants that serves lahmacun without meat. The food quality is really good. It is Anatolian food, a bit different than turkish which makes it more interesting. I bright my American friends and they were very happy with the food. read more

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5 stars*. I came here because of Travel Beans very enthusiastic You Tube reviews of Moda and this restaurant in particular. The Ciya Donner and the Pistachio Kebap we had was probably the finest I had in Istanbul. You can taste the quality of the meal in the first bite. Its also located in the heart of Modas cafe/restaurant lane. The outdoor seating allows you to feel the pulse of this District which ironically is the most European we've been too but it's in the Asian side. *If you are in Moda or planning to visit Moda definitively come here. Is it worth crossing the ferry from the European side to Asia just for this? IDK. read more

Çiya Kebap 2 - Pistachio Kebabs - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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very good service and food. good seating and ambiance. i ordered the spicy lamb kabob and it was good with the bread and onions read more

Çiya Kebap 2 - Spicy Lamb - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

My eagerly anticipated pistachio kebap did not disappoint. It was full of yummy goodness, tender meat, and flavor. This is a worthwhile stop on the Asian side of Istanbul which I think gets overlooked a lot. It's located on a street lined with many restaurants including three restaurants by Ciya. Actually, we had eaten at Ciya Sofrasi the day before but came back here specifically to partake in the offerings at Ciya Kebap. We sat at one of the tables outside. It was a little windy but we managed to eat our food without too much difficulty. The service was decent and it was a tad busy as the dinner crowd was starting to fill in. If you're in Istanbul, I highly recommend taking the ferry to visit the Asia side. The touristy little area a few blocks from the ferry dock has nice shops, lovely restaurants, and lots of fresh produce and fish in the farmer's market area. read more

Çiya Kebap 2 - Pistachio kebab - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Ciya has the best Lahmacun and pistachio kebab I've ever had. Here's a blog about the restaurant: https://medium.com/@shayshao/d2182329e59c read more

Wow what a place! My friends and I really enjoyed eating here. They have one menu that has the things they serve every day, and then they have a separate menu that are basically the daily specials. If you ever have any questions, you can go up to chefs and they can explain to you what's in the dish you're interested in. We ordered a lot of food here and it was all delicious! I really don't think you could go wrong eating here! read more

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Our hotel manager recommended this place for Kebaps. We took the ferry from Istanbul to Kadikoy and walked a few blocks to the restaurant. The first night we went, I loved their Lamb Kebap....it was tender, delicious, well seasoned, crispy on the edges. My BF got the pistachio kebap and it was very good too... We decided to go back a second time, since we liked the food so much...the second time, my lamb kebap was good, but not was good as the first time.....my BF's kebap (cheese kebap) was not as good as the pistachio one. Overall great choice, it depends on the kitchen's cook. read more

The best kebap restaurant that i've tried. The selection is big and the quality of the ingredients outstanding. I came here after the big feast at Ciya Sofrasi and since i could not eat anymore i ordered to go and we had a great lunch the next day waiting for the airplane back to the US. read more

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Bustling restaurant & terrace, known for kebabs & Turkish pizzas from an open kitchen & brick oven. The kebap is well made however, I cant say the same thing for the service. We sat upstairs on a hot summer evening assuming that the A/C was actually working. It was extremely hot and when we opened the window right by our table, the server tried to 'scold' us saying that the A/C was on. There was only one other occupied table at the moment, on our floor, yet it was one of the excuses the server used on us. read more

Çiya Kebap 2 - Ciya Kebap - minced meat with pistachios wrapped lavas served with Turkish yoghurt. - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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I entered the building and asked the waiter standing near the front door if I could get a kebab. He asked to to please have a seat. I'd figured that I could simply get a kebab to go, but I decided to have a seat. The man brought me a menu and gave me some time to look over it. There was an incredible variety of kebab available. I suppose my experiences in Austria had convinced me that kebab is a very simple and cheap food--not the sort of thing you'd find in a restaurant. Here at Ciya I was finally being corrected. As I looked through the extensive kebab menu, the fistikli kebab immediately called out to me. The kebab were all around 22-28 tl, which I hadn't been expecting. Regardless of this, my faith in Ciya was complete after my last meal. I asked my waiter what he would recommend in terms of kebab and the first thing he suggested was the kebab with pistachio; I would take it. I ordered the kebab but the waiter, after sizing me up, asked if I might also like to try a salad. I asked him if he thought I would need it. "It might be a good idea," he confirmed. I asked him what I should take and he suggested the mixed meze plate ("meze" being roughly equivalent to hors d'ouevres). I decided to take this suggestion... My previously incorrect assumptions about the humbleness of kebab were blown out of the water with this kebab. The dish was beautifully presented. Thin folds of fresh lavaş (a very thin wrap-like bread) served as a pillow for a long pillar of pistachio-crusted lamb meat that had been cooked on a skewer. The aromas of the meat were heavenly. To go with this there was a light salad of onion and parsley that had been dusted with sumac, as well as grilled tomato and pepper, and a wonderfully-spiced rice. Read my full review on my food blog: http://reestablishingthefoodconnection.blogspot.co.at/2013/04/ciya-round-two-fistikli-kebab-epiphany.html read more

Çiya Kebap 2 - fistikli kebab (Succulent lamb meat encrusted with pistachio) - Kebab Near Me - Istanbul, 34

I visited here yesterday. I ordered Adana Kebap for 36 YTL and a glass of open Ayran(traditional yogurt drink) for 7YTL. Ayran was quite warm in which I had to ask server to bring some ice. The taste of Adana kebab was fair enough. However, in Turkey normally when you order an entry like Adana Kebap or any kind of Kebap entry, before the entry you are being served with some small sample of appetizers. This place does not serve any kind of those appetizers at all. The portion of the Adana Kebab was also quite small. If you are really hungry, one portion might not be enough for you. I guess the prices in menu are mostly accommodated for tourists. For local customers, prices are a bit expensive. Overall 3 stars would be fair for this place. read more

There comes a point in a man's life when he decides, "I think I'll eat dinner is Asia tonight." It is typically an amazing feat to travel to another continent just to eat a meal - unless, of course, you happen to be in Istanbul. During my adventures in this city, I only wanted to eat at its best restaurants. According to my sources, the Çiya establishments offered the very best Ottoman food in Istanbul. Hearing this, I knew I would not be satisfied until I tried it. So, I hopped the tram, boarded a ferry for a beautiful trip across the Bosphorus, and entered Asia for an unforgettable meal. Once I got off the ferry in Kadıköy, I had no idea where I was going, I quickly found a public information booth. When I approached and explained that I was looking for a restaurant, I was cut off in mid-sentence; the woman who was assisting me immediately asked if I was looking for Çiya. I was already happy I had made the journey. After a short walk, I arrived at the restaurants. It is imperative to note that Çiya is made up of three separate restaurants: Çiya, Çiya Sofrasý, and Çiya Kebap II. Çiya Sofrasý serves an upscale and eclectic selection of Anatolian and Mesopotamian foods. I chose to eat at Çiya Kebap II because of its laid-back atmosphere, meze bar, and its revered, namesake dish, the Çiya Kebap. The meze bar is outstanding. Whether you're in the mood for hummus, baba ghanoush, dolmades, or various types of salad, you will love this aspect of the restaurant. Once you make your selections, the staff will weigh your plate to decide its price. The cost is very reasonable...I paid $13TL (around $4.50USD) for a very well-portioned plate. I found the dolmades to be the best I had while in Istanbul. Looking back, I really wish I had gotten a second helping! However, the meze bar is only the beginning. For my main course, I chose the Çiya Kebap, which is tender minced beef that is wrapped in warm bread with pistachios and cheese. In the center of the plate is a generous helping of Turkish yogurt, which adds a notable tang to the dish. Topping your meal off with a nice piece of baklava and a glass of hot tea is highly recommended. If you are in Istanbul, don't leave without eating at this Anatolian-side gem! read more

This place was recommended on a blog as a great place to go on the Asian side for traditional ottoman cuisine and it didn't disappoint. The server was really kind and explained how everything worked and what was in every dish. I had a lamb and chickpea stew that was really delicious. The portion size wasn't so big, but that was fine since I was planning to fill up on desserts! I had the 'pumpkin dessert' which was an actual big slice of pumpkin that had been jellied or sugared somehow. It was really delicious but also SUPER sweet. Then I had my old favourite of baklava, which they make here with the addition of heavy cream. It was very heavy but actually not as sweet as normal and so was a nice change from the pumpkin dessert. I definitely would recommend if you're looking for some traditional food to eat in Kadiköy. read more

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Loved it! I ordered the aubergine kebab which is a veggie/"lighter" version and it is was simply delicious and filling. The service is good and rapid. And price affordable. read more

Yeah this was a no but perhaps the person I was with didn't know how to order and we should have gone to the other Ciya. Read a lot of good things about this place and a local was surprised I didn't enjoy it and told me I probably went to the wrong Ciya. Open to trying it again. read more

Expensive and too small portions. I ordered a vegetarian kebab which turned out to be minced lamb..only. We had to wait long and remind them to bring us drinks. I would not come back read more

A must-taste destination if you are EVER in Istanbul's Asian side. It was actually the best Turkish food we have had yet...very authentic and delicious. Everyday they have a new menu, and all-in-all there are 400 total recipes. Judging from everything we ordered, they are probably all worth trying! Get the meze (appetizers) downstairs. It's very affordable & they charge those plates by the weight. Also order kebap as that's what this restaurant is known for. I also ordered the stuffed veggies with lamb and mint, delicioussssss. All in all it was a very welcoming, warm, and delicious experience. 5/5! read more

Just about the most authentic Turkish food that you will find--highly recommended by the locals, and a restaurant that they themselves like to frequent. It's on the Asian side of Istanbul, just a short walk from the Kadikoy ferry landing. read more