Finally had my first visit and I was so excited! I was greeted very warmly and got some tea while I waited for my friends. I was the only one there for a bit. I knew I wanted the sojouk pide, as I've seen it but never tried it. It was so unique in flavors I don't think I've experienced before and I absolutely loved it. I only ate about half and it tasted great leftover, too. (It is NOT like pizza!) My friends both had the lentil soup and grape leaves and enjoyed both dishes. I've tried grape leaves before and don't care for them, but my friend convinced me to try it - and it was the best I've ever tried! The leaf wasn't tough and there was a nice wrapper to filling ratio. I knew I had to get the knafeh, again a dish I've seen on tv but never had. I was doing the Food Dance! (The owner 'caught' me and we had a good laugh!) My friend had the milky baklava and enjoyed that. I regret not trying a bite. I can't wait to go back. Some of the nicest staff I've ever encountered - welcoming, warm, friendly and happy to explain anything to someone new to the cuisine! read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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The service was top notch and to my delight, they were able to make most of the dishes vegetarian. Everything I tried was delicious! The actual dining area seems a bit bare-bones but I hardly noticed it with all the delicious food that was continually being brought to the table. read more

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Hidden gem in WMU. This is straight forward authentic food. The server recommendations are all amazing. We start off with the cheese pastry appetizer - delicious cheese but it will make you feel full easy. The Manti (poached beef dumplings) is a must.. it is delicious. Those little dumplings are wrapped and seasoned well plus the sauce compliments well. The Iskandar Kabab tastes good as well. I like the fresh yogurt on the side. We enjoyed all what we ordered. read more

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Service was fast and friendly, more than happy to answer any questions about the menu. I came on a Sunday afternoon and there were only a few other patrons inside. Turkish coffee was exquisite friendly reminder not to drink it to the bottom bits. My beef doner sandwich was sensational the bread was pillowy soft and firm on the bottom. If I lived closer I'd be here probably once a week. read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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This was truly an authentic Turkish dining experience, and Ayasofya is a hidden gem when it comes to food. The atmosphere is simple, and clean. The service is attentive, communicative. Food was absolutely delicious!! I highly recommend the Ayasofya Kebab I swear by it! It's easily one of the best I've had in this restaurant. It comes with frise and yogurts sauce. For dessert , Their chocolate baklava is phenomenal!! It is a must try! The Iskender Kebab is another highly recommend as well. The combination of meat, rice, yogurt, tomato sauce, and bread is simply perfect. The portions are generous, making it a great value for the price. On the other hand, I wasn't a big fan of the stuffed grape leaves as they lacked flavor and sauce, and they came out dry. I preferred the stuffed cabbage more. A small suggestion for the chef: Adding olive oil and lemon or tomato sauce to the stuffed grape leaves would really enhance their flavor. The kunafa was just okay it came soaking in syrup. I'd recommend serving the syrup on the side so customers can adjust the sweetness to their liking. A couple of recommendations for improvement: Adding more plants to the décor would enhance the ambiance, and keeping sick children away from the dining area would help maintain a more professional environment. Overall, Ayasofya is a true hidden gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious, authentic Turkish food. I been there twice and I'll definitely be coming back again to try more dishes! read more

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My very first visit and it was worth it. Resturant was nice and clean and very tidy. Help was available soon as you came to the door even though I didn't know what the names were. I took pictures and asked because I said I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm sure it's gonna be good. The man that took my order was very patient and helpful. I took everything to go and everything was good especially the Manti. I will be back again, especially for this dish. Thank you for the great service and great food! read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Potato rolls - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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I'm thinking this was my first time eating in an actual Turkish restaurant. I loved that the waitress kept my tea cup filled with tradition Turkish tea. The food was delicious! There are some vegan options; just talk it through with the waitress. The eggplant salad, shepherd salad, stuffed cabbage leaves are some safe options. Everything was delicious. read more

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Amazing food and good vibes! Food was light and fresh. We got the rolls (with cheese) for an appetizer, manti and Lahmajun for entrees! Would highly recommend to anyone!! read more

We had a wonder meal at Ayasofya. The food is very authentic Turkish food in the best way. My husband had manti and I had a doner in a homemade pita. The portions were generous. It was a surprise to find such a terrific spot for lunch on our return to Chicago from Ann Arbor. read more

I've been here three times in one week! This place is THAT GOOD! Here's why: - Almost every dish is delicious, whether sweet or savory! You won't be disappointed no matter what you order. Everything is expertly made with passion, and all the meat is Halal! - The owner and staff are incredibly kind and attentive--they truly know how to take care of their customers. - The prices are reasonable--you can enjoy a filling meal for two for around $40. - The portion sizes are just right for the price. - The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, though it could use more color and decorative touches. Since the place is still new, I'm sure it will improve over time. Overall: The restaurant doesn't have a big sign yet, so it might be easy to miss--but don't! Step inside and enjoy some incredible, flavorful food without hesitation! read more

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Delicious manti (even a vegan option!), pide, baklava, and more. Our tea cups were never empty - you will feel like family dining here. We also had the stuffed cabbage rolls (luxurious texture - almost creamy exterior), and very good hand rolled dolma. We sampled all of the baklava - everything was hand made. I am curious about the pizzas - many options are available - so if you are seeking familiar fair, you will have options. read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Veggie pide - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Very tasty food and authentic fresh made Turkish cuisine. Turkish coffee was excellent. Turkish tea amazing. Kunafeh was incredible.

Ayasofya's food and service were both superb. Absolutely the best. I highly recommend the manti. As soon as the generous portion of small beef dumplings was put in front of me, I could smell the delicious tang of the yogurt sauce. The layers of yogurt and tomato sauces complemented each other perfectly. The dish was seasoned with a gently savory combination of herbs - I detected sumac and mint (just the right amount, not overpowering as it easily could be), and my spouse thought there might be some hibiscus as well. Red lentil soup was great comfort food, creamy (with no actual cream), filling, and smooth. The stuffed grape leaves were made with a savory flavored rice, which I liked better than the rather plain lemony rice I'm used to with this dish. Everyone at my table loved their desserts, and I can attest that the kunefe was top notch. Melted cheese between light and crisp layers of thin pastry. A perfect hint of honey sweetened the pastry while letting the cheese stand alone. Our waiter was perhaps the friendliest I've ever encountered - in a good way! Truly a delight. The owner also stopped by our table with a brief and friendly welcome. The vibe was relaxed and pleasant, and the hospitality was generous. I hope that over time, they'll make the lighting and decor a little cozier to match, but I barely noticed since I was absorbed in the delicious food and friendly service. read more

My favorite local spot for Turkish food. Very friendly and helpful staff. Lots of choices of great authentic Turkish food. This is a great choice for an inexpensive tasty meal. read more

Friendly and attentive staff. The ambiance has a good Turkish feel to it. Food was excellent! read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Dollars and Manti - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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I adore this new place. Casual atmosphere, but the most incredible food, tastes just like eating in Istanbul . I had the manti, tiny handmade beef dumplings .. everyone Er jar loved their meal too.. Iskandar Kebabs so tender and the pizza with sojuk sausage. I can't wait til they start serving Turkish breakfast. Congratulations on opening a wonderful place! read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Manti - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Without exaggeration, this was the worst food I've ever eaten. It was supposed to be marinated meat, but I was served leftovers cooked probably the day before. I was shocked to be served processed stale meat. The tomato sauce was warmed ketchup. The rice cooked the day before. The pita underneath er the meat was not pita, but more like a roll. I ate some of it, but I was starving. I regret going there. Not suitable for humans. read more

Visited twice in one week. Look, this place has amazing food very friendly service, even cook came out to chat! We did family style with the 4 of us and split 3 meals and an eggplant salad. All food was amazing, highly recommend the Lahmajun, frickin good. We also got this dessert it was like a giant pistachio log soaked in honey, I got one at the restaurant and then another for home, I actually ate it in the car. Hey support local!!! read more

Between my husband and I, we've eaten at several Turkish restaurants. From Los Angeles to New York City. Not pros, but we have eaten at Turkish restaurants that blew our minds. So naturally, we were excited to try something so close to home AND a place that had so many good reviews. Maybe it was because they were understaffed, or were lacking a cook in the kitchen (the owner mentioned this to our table on several occasions), or there were just so many variables happening at once. But, our experience was pretty lackluster. I didn't have the heart to mention that the Anatolian cheese pastry was chilly and not-crisp. Or that both our main dishes were SO similar that it felt like we ordered the wrong plates? (Husband ordered the doner plate, I ordered the Iskander kebab plate.) The only difference was I had yogurt on the side and a smear of tomato paste on the meat. The beef was very unexciting and unflavorful (gyro-like meat that was quite overcooked/overworked?) His meat was accompanied by a salad and was served on a terra cotta plate. Grape leaves were, indeed, very nice. We finished those quickly. The feeling was a bit frantic upon entry. Almost like they weren't expecting as many people to come in that evening. Remnants of Bruno's pizza remained. Some decor was there to differentiate it from it's former owners. The place was clean and the people running it were VERY nice. We were pretty disappointed, sadly. Maybe they need more time? Staff? We ordered a sizable amount of food, which sadly, we chose not to finish. I want them to do well. I truly do. And I am hopeful for them. They seem to need just a bit more...something? The rice was good and had flavor. read more

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Service was amazing, such a nice family business and you can really feel how much love and care goes into their food. We had the stuffed grape leaves, rolls, kibbeh, manti, and lahnajun- all delicious, fresh, and homemade. We had an assortment of desserts to end the meal, the chocolate baklava was a hit at our table! Will definitely be back, thank you! read more

We have never had Turkish food and were curious. It was a great experience! Had the dish that is like small dumplings with yogurt sauce, and stuffed cabbage. It was delicious! Also the staff is friendly and good at giving food direction. Highly recommend! Give it a try. read more

The is always excellent here. It is fresh and delicious. I love the family atmosphere and awesome service. The tea, coffee and baklava are the best! read more

Incredible food and looking forward to seeing the establishment thrive by campus. I recommend getting something baked, the chciken gobit doner was my favorite. The service is great and the cafe is lovely. read more

We had several dishes delivered from Ayasofya. The food included mantı, lahmajun, pide with beef stews, and Ayasofya Kabab. Everything tasted amazing and the portions were generous. Even our teenagers and their friends were happy with the food! We look forward to visiting the restaurant in person and, in time, hope to try everything on the menu. read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I visited Istanbul last year and had an amazing dish called iskender kabop. I haven't seen it in my home town at all, but Ayasofya in Kalamazoo has it, and it is excellent! The only thing I missed was the sheep's butter that the dish was slathered in when I had it in Istanbul, but this version was delicious nonetheless. In all sincerity, there should be a line around the block just for this dish. Please patronize this restaurant and try this dish. You will not be disappointed. read more

This was likely my first time dining at a true Turkish restaurant, and I loved how the waitress kept my cup filled with traditional Turkish tea. The food was delicious! There are vegan options too, just ask the waitress. The eggplant salad, shepherd's salad, and stuffed cabbage leaves were all great choices. Everything was fantastic. read more

I liked the ambience of this place a lot. It was simple and had a diner field to it but they were playing an interesting dramatic Turkish movie that reminded me of Bollywood and so was fun to sit and watch while waiting for the food. The service was great with good attention when I made the order and I got a nice cup of tea while waiting for the takeout. The food was spotty. I had the kebab dish with rice and it was tasty and the dolmas were very nice. We also ordered some of the meat and veggie on bread and found those dishes to be a lot less appealing with quite a bit of cheese. I would be careful to order things that look more authentically Turkish if I were going to come back and I live out of town, so I'm not sure I will. read more

Located in a big, sterile restaurant space. I ordered some type of flatbread (lanajun or something) that was supposed to have spices on it; it was pretty tasteless. I can't find it on their online menu. My friend had the veggie pizza which was quite good. The service was awkward, I suspect maybe a new server. As a vegetarian, my options are limited. Didn't go for the stuffed cabbage based on the reviews I read. I expected something more like Middle Eastern food, spices I was familiar with. But the large empty setting was a bit depressing. Maybe I'll go back for carry out pizza. After reading the tart reply from the owner, I should give it one star. Don't get angry with me that I simply tried to sum up my experience and inadvertently placed you in the wrong cultural sphere (Turkey is not European, not Asian, most akin to the Middle East, and each country has their own twist on similar dishes). That bread thing I ordered had no spice - no taste. Wait staff inexperienced. Now I won't even go back for the pizza, a genuine Turkish dish I presume? Try be helpful to clarify your offerings, not angry. read more

Amazing! The atmosphere is welcoming, staff friendly and efficient. The food was fantastic! The food was rich and flavorful, homemade from scratch and true to genuine Turkish culture. If you don't eat here you're missing something special. We tried the stuffed grape leaves, Anatolian cheese pastry, the Gobit Doner sandwich and a mixed Pide'. Everything was delicious not too heavy and the fresh bread/pastry in those dishes was perfection. This place was not just eating it was a dinning experience that we will gladly do again. We were so full and had leftovers to take home- plus we ordered 2 Turkish bagels to go so we can bake them at home tomorrow read more

I've had Turkish pizza before, but this one was exceptional. The ingredients were fresh, the spices were perfectly balanced, and the dough was homemade and delicious. It's clear that a lot of care and tradition goes into every single piece. read more

Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant - Turkish pizza, chicken, and onion - Turkish Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I had lunch today at Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant. I enjoyed the "Doner Wrap" which was delicious and filling. The fries in the wrap were an added treat. The service was friendly and helpful. I tried Chocolate baklava for the first time ever and highly recommend that. Atmosphere was pleasant. It's good having something in that space on WMU campus. I Look forward to taking my family there. read more

Visited Istanbul a couple of years back but this place has far better Turkish food, along with friendly staff and reasonable prices. Great for sit-down and take out, lunch and dinner. read more

We learned of Ayasofya from the Kalamazoo Menu Group. They were gracious and had late night hours on Friday and we visited for Dinner. I had the Ayasofya Kebab and my partner had the Sujuk Pide. The food was excellent, we both enjoyed it immensely. The restaurant is very bright and clean, ample seating even for big groups of folks. The staff were very kind and patient with us, and very pleasant. This is the first time I've tried Turkish cuisine and I'm very happy that we enjoyed our dinner with our new addition to Kalamazoo's restaurant scene. We definitely will come back to explore more of their menu offerings. read more

Real cultural and authentic food, polite and graceful service, family owned atmosphere. Healthy and freshly prepared food with reasonable pricing. Easily one of the best restaurants in Kalamazoo. The Turkish tea was perfect for digestion. I tried the lentil soup which tastes nourishing. I snacked on their pide with mozzarella that was rolled out with dough, made fresh. I also had manti which was delicious and felt homemade. And to end it off, a couple pieces of pistachio baklava for dessert that was moist and fresh but also flaky and crunchy. Plus there's even a student discount and it's not a far walk from main campus. So happy I found it! read more

We've been there three times now. Food is delicious. Service is good. People are friendly. Understandably, they are still working out some bugs as they are so new. read more

What a gem! Friendly atmosphere in a family-run business. The rolls and doner were amazing.

The owner told us the stuffed cabbage leaves were just made and the grapeleaves earlier that day. Both were delicious. All five of us were very happy with our main courses which were very generous. I took some home, glad my hotel had a microwave! read more

Give this place some love! Great food and service. The hosts/owners are amazing. Ask for recommendations, and DO NOT SKIP dessert!

Delicious food and great people! Family-owned! Very spacious interior with a good amount of seating. Bathrooms are super clean and they have bidets as well. I had tried the Ayasofya pizza as it comes earlier in the week and loved it (and I don't even like olives or large slices of tomato!) but decided to customize it a little when I came inside to eat with my husband. Lahmacun was incredible. I love that they offer traditionally cooked Turkish coffee. They had the absolute best baklava I've ever had. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! I love to see more diverse halal options popping up in Kalamazoo. read more

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Great food and a wonderful staff. I highly recommend this restaurant. The Manti was fabulous.