Ok we actually loved this place! There were so many good options for my friend who is vegan and…read moreeverything was absolutely delicious. I left so stuffed and happy. Yes it was a bit pricey, but that's kind of the theme in Istanbul I've found, but the quality of everything made it very worth it. I've been thinking about the marinated garlic and onions for weeks!!

There are two turkish restaurants with nearly identical menus one block apart (around a corner)…read more This is not the good one! This is a factory, and the diner is riding on the assembly line. Service was unfriendly - three different servers and none greeted us, none made eye contact. Within the hour, three glasses fell from a waiter's tray near us, one of them shattering and bouncing up onto a table where people were eating, but no one offered to replace their meals. The food here is mediocre. Nothing memorable. We ordered rice (twice) and the second time were told they were out. Meat had little flavor. They made a drink that was good, and we ordered a second one that was terrible. Bartender shift change, and the second one just made things up (wrong liquor, wrong flavoring). We left it on the table after a sip and instead of taking the charge off the menu, the waiter replaced it with a drink that was marginally better (still the wrong liquor). Go around the corner to Nisantasi Baskose, where the menu is pretty much the same, the food is 3x better, the service 5x better and it's a quieter atmosphere, at the same price.

We stumbled upon this gem during our last night in Istanbul. It's along a path below street level,…read moreand as a tourist, wasn't someplace I would have found otherwise. But I'm glad I did because it was phenomenal! There were a lot of locals eating there, which is always a good sign. The service was wonderful. The waiters were attentive, but not pushy, and even with their limited English and my nonexistent Turkish we were able to communicate well and they gave great recommendations and suggestions. The food was absolutely delicious! So much flavor and the kebap was so tender and juicy. Extremely affordable too! I wish we were here for another few days because I would absolutely go back!

Excellent service. Everyone was exceptionally attentive and when I was eating my kebab plate wrong,…read morethe waiter actually showed me how to do it, by making a meal out of the wrap. I had no idea I was supposed scrape the eggplant and put it in the wrap like refried beans in a burrito. Haha. Glad I could experience it. And plenty of food.

Amazingly delicious. No scamming on the prices. They are clearly marked…read more Only thing is they will charge a cover charge for dine in, as most places in Europe. But the food is good. The different kinds of appys were fresh and authentic. Humus was excellent. Service quick and efficient. Servers Took the time to explain the menu. Place very rustic and filled with history. They have a loyal following. Locals eat there too. Prices may be little higher than some Places, but presentation can't be beat. Cheers! Happy eating!

Delicious and authentic food at this small restaurant. The service is amazing as well, great…read morepeople. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend!

In Istanbul for business and frequented this restaurant for dinner. The food here is absolutely…read moreamazing to say the least. There isn't just one menu item that I could possibly recommend as everything that I tried was great. This restaurant is also very easy on the wallet, and the service was impeccable. Zero complaints! There are many restaurants that offer traditional Turkish cuisine, but make it a point to stop in here. Two thumbs way up for this restaurant. Happy eating, my foodies!

I really enjoyed the food in this place, the lamb was juicy and tender, delicious salad and fresh…read morebread. Service was great and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed.

Don't listen to the bad reviews! This place is amazing! Home made, local goodness, can't pick…read moreanything wrong! From the moment we walked in, the customer service was on point! So friendly and treated us like long lost family! The menu had so many good things, it was hard to pick just one. Came with a group of 4 and we all ordered different things to share and try. One plate was better than the last! Food came out hot and fresh. Basically licked our plates clean. The other reviews here are off. Can't expect to come here and have a fine dining experience. If you want to eat at a mom and pop place with home cooked nom noms, this is the place to go! The owner even said if you don't like it, you don't pay so you can't go wrong. Recommended 100%!

Wonderful authentic homemade Turkish food in this cute hole in the wall spot as well as great…read moreservice. The owner was so nice, taught us some Turkish words, and gave us coffee and tea on the house. The shisha was really good too.

Çiya Sofrası and Kebab occupy opposite sides of a busy street in Kadıköy where Chef and owner Musa…read moreDağdeviren 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.

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

Delicious and massive amount of food at a reasonable price. The chicken casserole was amazing. Make…read moresure you get Mohammad as your server-he's the best!

There are so many Turkish cafés and restaurants in the area, so why did we keep coming back here?…read moreDuring this trip, I was traveling with a big family, which meant we weren't necessarily searching for the absolute best or most trendy food - we just wanted something reliable, familiar, friendly, and affordable. Ortaklar Kebap delivered exactly that. The restaurant gets quite busy during lunch and dinner hours, but they have three floors of dining space, so seating usually moves along fairly well, even with larger groups. As for the food, several dishes stood out: Grilled Sea Bass (Levrek) - 4/5. My pescatarian in-law absolutely loved this dish. The fish had beautifully blistered skin with a noticeable charcoal-grilled flavor that wasn't overpowering. Inside, the sea bass was flaky, moist, and flavorful. Falafel - 3.5/5. The falafels themselves were decent, but what really made the dish enjoyable was the generous assortment of sides that accompanied them. Ortaklar Special Kebab - 4/5. This was probably the family's favorite. The kebab had a wonderful wood-fired aroma, with nicely charred meat on the outside while staying juicy and succulent inside. Overall, this is a solid Turkish restaurant for families seeking tasty, satisfying food in a casual, welcoming setting. It may not be the fanciest spot around, but it's dependable, affordable, and somewhere we found ourselves happily returning to throughout the trip.

This is a simple establishment. The staff is very welcoming so I walked in. So glad that I did…read more I tried their potato with meatballs (beef) dish. It was very delicious. The potatoes was so soft and properly cooked all the way but still holding its form. The meatballs were tender and not hard. The gravy was very simple salt-based. Then, I tried their other gravy dishes and all were amazing. I bought a bunch of plates for dinner and carried the bag in my hand for about 2 to 3 hours while I toured northern istanbul. It was totally worth carrying for that long. I highly recommend this place.