Everything was delicious and the service was amazing. We ate at the bar and loved the experience. We'll be back!!! It's a popular place so make a reservation if you can. You won't regret it! read more

Bosforo - Eggplant with ground meat! Delicious - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

Tried Bosforo in North Park for dinner and it was a really solid experience overall. The restaurant itself is clean, inviting, and has plenty of seating--great for groups or a casual night out. We started with the Bosforo hummus, which was excellent--creamy, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the warm bread they serve alongside it. The shrimp casserole was decent but not particularly memorable, just a few shrimp baked in tomato sauce. A standout starter was the Çukurova lahmacun (a super thin wood-fired "pizza" with minced beef, tomato, parsley, and onion). I expected a little more crispness, but the flavors were still tasty. For mains, we tried the Bosforo kebap, lamb chops, and shish kebap. The beef dishes were flavorful, though the shashlik leaned a bit dry. The lamb chops, however, were perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. We finished with the sütlaç (cold rice pudding), which was lightly sweet and a nice way to end the meal. Bottom line: While not every dish was outstanding, overall the food was tasty, the atmosphere pleasant, and the service friendly. If you're craving Turkish cuisine, Bosforo is probably the best option San Diego has to offer. read more

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Bosforo is one of the best Turkish restaurants and bars in San Diego I've ever been to! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food is delicious, and the drinks are truly first class -- simply the best! I live nearby, so I often stop by just for a drink or two -- and I absolutely love having a place like this in my neighborhood. It feels like a little slice of Türkiye right around the corner. I can tell the team is passionate about quality and hospitality -- especially at the bar. The cocktails are creative and expertly made, and the bar service is always friendly and professional. A special shoutout to Mario here, the brilliant bar manager and the creative mind behind the cocktail menu. His attention to detail and passion for Turkish flavors with a modern twist truly make Bosforo stand out. Highly recommended guys, for anyone looking for an authentic taste of Türkiye in a vibrant and stylish setting! read more

Bosforo - Mario from Bosforo Bar - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food and cocktails! We ordered the icli kofte, cukurova lahmacun and bosforo kebap. For dessert, we ordered antep kadayif! Everything was yummy and the waiter helped us order/ how to eat some of the dishes since they were new to us. Will be coming back! read more

Bosforo is a fun place with good kebabs. it gets pretty loud on weekends. More dessert selection would be welcome.

We went in around 8pm and the waiter Kevin (if that truly was his name idk, white guy with blue eyes) was clearly done for the day, and his attitude towards us gave that away. When i inquired about a drink, he started to critique my face. At this point I should have left the restaurant. The noise level was insanely loud with people screaming just to be heard. I thought ok well hopefully the food would be good, upon arrival of the eggplant dish it was a big disappointment with one spoonful of eggplant in the middle. The fish entree was nice and the chicken was charred and 1 tiny skewer. Most likely would not return. Which is very disappointing because I was looking forward to a nice experience. read more

I can't say enough great things about this restaurant! They've only been open for five days, but you'd think they'd been around for years. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is stunning, and the staff is truly outstanding. They guided us through the menu, gave thoughtful recommendations, and somehow got every dish out quickly and flawlessly. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. We sat at the bar, which turned out to be a blast--the bartenders were clearly busy but still managed to be friendly, fast, and super engaging. Honestly, just go. Make a reservation now before the word gets out and it gets impossible to get in! read more

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Service was great. Food amazing. Owner came with food and explained what it was and how Turkish people eat it and when they serve it in their traditions. Very yummy flavors. read more

We really enjoyed this new Turkish restaurant! Great flavors and well priced. We loved the Mersin crispy potato, which is chips with a dipping sauce. Yum! The manti (the dumplings) were my absolute favorite! Highly recommend! The service was great even though the restaurant was quite busy. Our serve recommend many of the dishes we ordered. The space is open, with a large bar on one side, open kitchen and a pizza oven on the others. Cool modern decor with a Turkish twist. read more

Bosforo - Hummus and bosforo lahmacun - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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food was super yummy, the place is stunning, and our server richard was awesome!!! perfect recommendations can't wait to try more of the menu read more

The food was excellent and the overall atmosphere was very pleasant. The service was great as well, especially thanks to Umur, who was incredibly attentive and professional. My only note is that the portions were a bit small, but everything tasted wonderful. read more

Bosforo - Cig kofte tartar - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

I love this place. I've been a couple of times and it's always so busy. I've never sat at a table only the bar because I've never made a reservation. I find that Mediterranean food in general is a bit pricey so this is on par for the cuisine and the ambience. The restaurant is very trendy. Full bar available and they have a drink menu. Since I've been a few times I don't recall exactly who j dishes I got but I do recall a set of dips with one being a very dilly dip served with house made pita bread that's fantastic but not traditional I'd say. I will definitely come back and likely take pics next time. read more

I've been here twice since they opened and every dish I've had here has been amazing. It's a relatively small space and I made a reservation both times but there is some bar seating available for walk-ins as well. Every server here is incredibly knowledgeable about the cuisine and culture and I was impressed with all the Turkish wine pairings as well. Well thought out restaurant and menu and I'm sure I'll be back again! read more

Bosforo has a young hip vibe complimented with good food and service. Michelle our server was attentive, friendly and helpful. Food was delivered on time and beautifully prepared. We ordered the herbed hummus, warm roasted eggplant (karniyarik), and prosciutto fig pizza which was amazing! Be sure to plan for an extra 15 minutes of travel and parking time, as I did not see any designated parking area (street parking only). Wear comfy shoes ladies :) read more

It was a little noisy and the tables too close together where we were constantly bumping into our fellow diners. Having said that, I see why it is so popular and packed even on a Tuesday evening. The service was really good, quick and professional. The kebabs were one of the most flavorful we have had. The fish was cooked to perfection. Was a little disappointed in the eggplant atom since we were expecting more eggplant but I suppose it's called an atom for a reason. The cocktails were decent as well. Would definitely go back for more of those kebabs! read more

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Bosforo was an absolute delight! A bit of a small restaurant but the ambiance was great and our waiter made it even better. The food spoke for itself - every dish was fantastic. I want to thank Ömür specifically for being a wonderful waiter. He was very kind and engaging and served many tables without making anyone wait long, despite the restaurant being full. Hope to have him as a waiter next time again, he will greet you with a smile! read more

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Have now been twice to this unique Turkish restaurant in Normal Heights - great service, delicious food, and a lively atmosphere. The Bosforo humus and bosforo kebap are must try's! I enjoyed trying different Turkish wines too. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes! read more

Bosforo - Turkish red wine - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

Fantastic atmosphere and food! I highly recommend getting the lamb chops and the meatball appetizer.

Bosforo delivers an exceptional Turkish and Mediterranean dining experience. The food is consistently flavorful and beautifully presented. The Bosforo Kebab is an absolute must perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. We also enjoyed the hummus, and the catch of the day (Branzino) was perfectly grilled and seasoned. Portions are generous, and the wine selection is impressive, with plenty of great Turkish pairings for the menu. The space has a lively, vibrant energy perfect for a casual dinner with friends or a special night out. If you're looking for authentic Turkish/Mediterranean food in San Diego, Bosforo is definitely worth the visit. read more

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Service was great. Restaurant is gorgeous. I had been waiting for the opportunity to try this place for awhile. We snagged an 8:30 reservation. We were seated without a wait, our server was top tier. Things are going great we get drinks (cocktails) which were...oK. we drank them. Got appetizer warm hummus with pastrami and eggplant with ground meat. Both were a miss. Entrees were 4 piece lamb rack and mantu. Both were a miss. Actually the lamb was acceptable, but the bulgar gritz it sat on was bland and not pleasant. The mantu was very very bland. We were debriefing out meal at the table, as to what went wrong with the various courses. Then our server came by to ask how everything was. I lied and said it was lovely. But it wasnt and the lady at the table next to us who overheard the debrief chuckled and smiled at me. In the moment i didnt have it in me to tell our server how disappointed i was in this food that i was so keen to enjoy. Anyway the best message to give a restaurant in these situations is to just not go back. It'll be interesting to see what the repeat customer business looks like after the novelty of this place fades and the food matters more to the bottom line read more

Dined at Bosforo for the first time last week and had an incredible experience. We came in with no reservation on a busy Wednesday but the team was able to squeeze us in at the bar after a short wait. Eric behind the bar was attentive, knowledgeable and personable! Neither I nor my girlfriend were particularly familiar with Turkish food and Eric took the time to break down a variety of dishes and made excellent recommendations. The smoked yogurt and Bosforo hummus were two of our favorites and you must get the Bosforo kebab if available. The cocktails we tried at Eric's recommendation were creative, original, and delicious. Lastly, while the menu contains a lot of nuts (of which I am allergic), Eric was able to make suggestions and modifications to dishes to make sure I could safely try them. They also offer gluten free alternatives which was amazing for my girlfriend! Highly recommend checking this spot out and sitting at the Bar with Eric! read more

Bosforo - Cocktails - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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Our experience here was great. Our waitress was incredibly welcoming and helped us out with the menu by explaining everything and giving us great recommendations. The food was amazing as well. One of the chefs came around and talked to us a bit, which was nice as well. read more

Bosforo - hummus, yogurt dip, pita - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time here but have been dying to come in! Got myself a raki meze and an ouzo drink tastes authentic and service is great, totally my style of restaurant because it includes great stylish clean ambience the cheese is to die for! read more

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Great new addition to the Normal Heights area. Pros were: fun decorations, delicious food, and although it's all street parking, it's not a super busy neighborhood so we found parking fairly quickly. The bosforo kebap was delicious, and the muazzez cocktail was one of my favorites - fresh, light and sweet (coming from someone who has a sweet and fruity taste when it comes to cocktails). I'm really happy I tried this place!! That said, service was a tad slow and the restaurant layout is somewhat crowded, cramped, and very noisy; it's basically one big room with all the tables packed close to each other. I wouldn't mind if I were expecting to go to a pub or a bar or something of the sort, but at least for me when I'm laying down a hefty dollar for a fancy meal and some drinks I personally prefer a more calm, spacious, elegant atmosphere. So probably wouldn't come back or recommend this to others but great food and great new spot to the SD food scene all around! read more

Bosforo - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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Holy moly, this place is incredible. We went for a date night and we got sat at the bar with Cem (pronounced gem in English). Cem made our date night amazing. The food was incredible, the vibe was immaculate, and Cem's service was more than on point. We met the owner and you can tell it's his mission to make this place excellent. 5/5, no notes. I've been to all the best places in SD, and this is the one I will be recommending to people. All I can say is, thank you Cem (and the rest of the staff) for a fantastic night. read more

This place is 10/10. I see people complaint about having to wait 10 mins or so. It's part of a busy restaurant most of the time. And please, don't ever compare this place to Leila. There are levels, and Leila is not even close to this. So, please let's be careful there. I went, I am, and I will go to this place regularly. The food is perfect. Great job by the owner and those who work there. read more

Bosforo - Manti and Bosforo kebap - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

Finally had to chance to try this place and did not disappoint. I would highly recommend the smoked yogurt dip and the lamb chops. Also the beef pizza was delicious. The service nice and the place is nice inside. Can't wait to come back for another dinner night. read more

Bosforo - Lamb chops - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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There are very few places that I will recommend when it comes to true Turkish cuisine. One is in the Bay Area, one is in LA and now we are blessed with Bosforo in SD. Amazing food, amazing ambiance and service is also top notch. The last time we went it was for my birthday and boy oh boy were we spoiled! Appetizers and Entrees are phenomenal. Normally appetizers were smaller but now they have fixed it and they are the right portion. Bosforo Kebap is fantastic. They used to have Manti (Turkish dumplings) but now they don't. Menu changes seasonally and based on availability which makes it so good since the ingredients are authentic. Oh and the cocktails! Phenomenal. Most of them are a fusion of Turkish alcoholic beverages like Raki and classical flavors in Turkish cuisine like pomegranate or sumak. Absolutely amazing. Look no further if you want to experience modern Turkish cuisine! read more

The service was nice, drinks were tasty, food was just ok. Turkish pizza was a bit too thin, and the grilled meats were slightly over cooked. I would want better pairing with the main entrees. Pickled onions were the only sides which I would have enjoyed more with mix green salad. This place use to be the el zarape, the new owners made it more soft ambient with beige and white colors as backdrop. Pictures made the food look a lot better than the actual product. read more

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Yummmmmy! EVERYTHING was tasty!!! And I really appreciate that their menu let you know what was gluten free. They kept the tea flowin' too! We were very well taken care of. It got REALLY loud which was a bit overwhelming but the bathroom was quiet, dark and sexy so I was able to regulate in there when I got overstimulated. So that was good! The beef kabob was everything. The homemade yogurt cucumber garlic dip and the eggplant dip were excellent with cucumber spears and 'fries' instead of bread. It was so good! I'd come back for sure!! read more

Hostess was rude, humus 10/10, pizza 3/10 felt like an arugula salad on top of pizza dough, lamb dish, no flavor, as if they pulled in from the sous vide and just put in the plate, 3/10. 2 bees, appetizer, small pizza and small dish was $125. Server was nice. Wouldn't come back. I made reservations for 2, they sat us at the bar. About 10 open tables there, after being sat down for 20 minute, they still many open tables, still wouldn't sit us and when we left they had open tables. When ask if I was to come as walk in, where would i sit, she said the bar. So no point making reservations. When making reservations, the bar should not be an option. At time of booking they was plenty of spots, I did not imagine they would sit us at the bar. Walked over here for our 6 year anniversary, wife is pregnant, couldn't just pick any another spot on the fly. Legit read more

As a middle easterner it's super hard to find food that hits the mark out in SD. Authentic with a modern twist, Bosforo nailed it. Vibes and price point is great. Everything we ordered was a 10/10 and earned its spot as my favorite restaurant out here now read more

Bosforo - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friends and I had a wonderful time at Bosforo on Friday night. The menu options and flavors transported me back to Turkey. The food was definitely more upscale and the prices reflected it. Everything was plated beautifully. The cocktails and the bottle of Turkish red we ordered were great. The noise level was a little loud as others have mentioned but I didn't mind it as it was part of the lively restaurant experience. Best of all was the service. Our server, Kevin (?), was very attentive and took extra time to go over all the menu items with us. He also gave us good recommendations. I hope to return soon to enjoy all of the other menu items we didn't get to try. read more

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We had drinks and dinner at the regular bar tonight and everything was excellent. The bartender that helped us was Fahti (spelling?). He made excellent recommendations for food and drinks and could not have been better. Highly recommend the Bosfor kebap. It was perfection. read more

Bosforo was a totally new experience, and the food was surprisingly delicious. I was especially impressed by the icli kofte. The bosforo kebab was full of flavor, and the meat really stood out. I will definitely come back again to try other dishes. read more

Bosforo - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

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Down one star because of extremely noisy atmosphere. Conversation, even ordering meal was uncomfortable. What a relief to get outside into the quiet after dinner! Food was outstanding, but the ayran yogurt drink is NOT made in house. They serve the inferior bottled version which lacks the lightness and is way too salty. The portions are generous so be careful to not over order. Remember, you can always add on. Just be sure to include a Lahmacun to share. The wait staff is superb. They are patient explaining the food and drinks for neophytes. They are proud of their distinguished cuisine. Bosforo is an exciting foodventure but be prepared for the dominating loudness. read more

I randomly saw this place on Instagram, and I love Turkish food, so my wife and I decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed. Everything we had was absolutely fantastic, and the service and ambiance were also perfect. 10/10. No notes. Can't wait to come back. read more

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Food was fantastic, service great and helpful (Kevin was great) had the appetizers Bosforo humus and the Karniyarik (meat stuffed eggplant. These were fantastic appetizers not huge portions and perfect for 2 people proportions wise. We then had the Bosforo Kebap, this was so good, better than I had thought it would be. Also had the Kofte, these meat balls were really good too, the Kebap was the best by far, they only make 50pcs per day so you have to get there t try it. Drinks were good, cukurova, anatolia and antalya spritz were great drinks. Enjoy the food. Parking can be difficult but well worth it when eating their food. read more

Great ambiance! Sweet treat pismaniye was so thoughtful! Thanks to our busser Hakan! Will be back! read more

Bosforo - Great ambiance! Sweet treats pismaniye was so thoughtful! - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California

The best lahmacun I've ever had in the states........ Def need to try that one...!!!!! Local beer are so good as well read more

Bosforo - The best lahmacun I've ever had in the states - Turkish Near Me - San Diego, California