I had high expectations of a place with 4.5 star rating. Giving it 2 stars because the taste of the food was alright, the ambiance was interesting, and they clearly labeled the GF items, but this place was a strikeout. Strike 1: Creepy guys in the back giving a once over to every girl that came through the door, then whispering to each other. Not even subtle about it. Strike 2: On a Sunday night (with only a few other guests there)... food served lukewarm at the same time as a starter salad (3 minutes after we ordered the meal). After asking to have the main dish warmed, it came back in under a minute (clearly microwaved). When I called out the server on it, she said "oh- we have to do that only for your dish". Pretty sure that was a lie, given how quickly other dishes came out. Furthermore, one should never "have to" microwave anything in a restaurant. Strike 3: Waitress didn't fill up my water glass, even after asking her to. She was too busy chatting with the other employees (who were also standing around). Later, we told her that we wanted the check, then she left without telling anybody about our request. Oops- guess she didn't want her tip either. Perhaps things run more like they should on a weekday night? Not sure I'm coming back to find out. Take a look at my other reviews- I'm not very picky and I don't give bad ones very often. This place just really disappointed. read more

great family run restaurant with real Turks! The food is very good quality and flavor. Fun spices. The surprise is half of the menu is also gluten free as well. Meat and veggies qualify. Great staff and the turkish coffee is great. read more

Very authentic, food was super delic. The owner is friendly - chatted with us, and recommended the combo meat platter. Was great. We used the Yelp coupon and saved some. One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. read more

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The owner took time to introduce the menu to us but it wasn't weird like table side guacamole. The food was incredible and the experience of eating here was lovely. We give this place 5 zatars! read more

There is always a wait, but it seems to go pretty quickly. However, I wish they would get a seating area or something since people just crowd the doorway and even extend into the dining area which is uncomfortable for people trying to eat having others hover over them. The food was great! The rainbow hummus trio was delicious and my favorite one was the yam hummus - amazing. The lamb was also great and the pita bread was fresh and fluffy. The service here is not good, borderline awful. Both times we've been, we waited about 15 minutes before someone even came to bring us water and acknowledge us. Then about another 15 ish minutes before someone came back again to take our order. This type of service continued up until the minute we paid and left. I hope they improve this! read more

What a charming cafe. The owners were super friendly, and the food was amazing! The rainbow hummus was superb, and the Cappadocia Chicken Köftes were fantastic. I will definitely visit this cafe again, when I'm back in Seattle! read more

I really wanted to love this place, and I did the first time we visited. I was excited to go a second time and try some other menu items. It was a Saturday night and their website says if it is less than 3 hours before you want a reservation you need to call directly, OK so it was just about 3 hours so just to be safe we called and made an 8:30 pm reservation, they said OK, no problem. We get there and it is completely full and no one looks as if they are even close to leaving, so they apologized and said it got busier than they expected because they forgot to look at their online reservations.....why have Open Table on your website if you don't check it? We had already paid for parking so we said him would we come back in 30 minutes, he said fine he would hold a table for us. So off we go, in the rain to have a glass of wine at one of Fremont's watering holes. After 30 minutes we head back and just as we get there two men walked in right before us and were given the last table...without a reservation. Needless to say we walked out and went somewhere else. As you can imagine this left a bad taste in our mouth (no pun intended) and I'm not sure when I'll feel like trying it again. Just be aware of the fact that they DO NOT honor reservations, so don't even bother making them. read more

I rate this establishment an extra two stars beyond the well deserved five! That's right 7 stars! Anyhoo, I love everything, the little import selections, the atmosphere, the food and drinks, and most of all the people people people! The staff and owner are great! Thank you! Ps. I'm still dreaming of the pistachio baklava I took home! Mmmmmmm read more

This is as good a Turkish food experience as I've had in the US, and it was as much about the warmth of the staff as the food. I started with the just right Turkish coffee followed by a recommendation from the manager for the meal. I wish I knew what it was called, but it was fantastic. Tender lamb in a yogurt sauce with rice and salad, and it's the favorite lunchtime meal. I had lunch there two successive days, both times trusting the manager to pick. Seriously, consider letting them choose your meal for you. The pide was excellent, as were the stories that accompanied it. Really, really authentic food, relaxed service, and a pleasant setting make for a great dining experience. All I needed was a view of the Bosphorus and I'd have sworn I was back in Istanbul. read more

Amazing food, such a pleasant surprise to stumble upon. Lamb beyti was tender and extremely flavorful. The salad complimented the dish well, giving it a balance. Service was great, so nice about making recommendations for me and my friend who were unfamiliar with Turkish food and overwhelmed by the menu. They all had a very laid back, friendly approach and just seemed like fun people. Atmosphere is super cute, it made us want to take a trip to Turkey. All in all, I think this place has made it onto my list of favorite restaurants! It is definitely a place I would take someone from out of town if they want to try something different and more cultural. read more

My wife said that the restaurant could use a restaurant consultant. I agreed, but I doubt they would take the advice to heart and implement it. The place is run by a large middle aged man. Let's call him Pasha. Pasha exerts his control, a bit too much. The front of the house is disorganized. There were nearly 10 staff members there, with three serving. Two were experienced, but undermined by Pasha. We arrived on a busy Saturday night with no reservation (I'm not sure that would have helped). We were acknowledged and then promptly forgotten. Two other groups that arrived after us were seated, including a couple to a four top. After waiting 30-40 minutes, we were finally seated in the back under the harsh fluorescent lights. It took another 10-15 minutes for someone to take our order. Our tea came promptly, and then our appetizers a few minutes later, and immediately after that our entrees. Our table could barely hold it all. I would have appreciated a small break between courses. We finished our food, which was pretty tasty. And then the wait began again. It was easily another 30 minutes before a bill came, while our empty plates remained on the table. Meanwhile, Pasha slowed down. Initially, he had the energy to work the front of the house. As the evening wore down, he sat at his throne (the computer workstation) at the back of the house, spending lots of time in long conversations with the staff. The staff seems torn between loyalties to Pasha and wanting to serve the customers. They are undertrained and don't know how to run a restaurant efficiently. Pasha doesn't know how to train them well, or won't. I liked my food (including a tasty lamb dish), but won't hurry back. Perhaps it would be better at a different time. The service and ambiance lacks. read more

Giving Cafe Turko five stars for the food! I was in Istanbul last year and experienced authentic Turkish food for the first time. The owners are from Izmir, so the variants on dishes are even more delightful. Be sure to try the powdered spices on each table -- ask the owner who waits on you how to use them. We ended up asking for his suggestions when we ordered -- I don't think you can go wrong here. Like many have said, don't be in a hurry. Service is a little slow, but so what? And we were pleased to be the only non-Turkish people eating there on a Tuesday night. Going back for the "Mother-in-law's Breakfast". read more

We absolutely loved this restaurant! Super friendly family, great food, and a great environment/setting. I don't understand some of the negative reviews... it was our first time here and the owners made us feel like we were eating in their home. Such sweet, great people! Also, there are cooking classes they offer that sound great. The owner told us everyone chops, prepares, cooks the food together, and then eats the food they learned to cook at a big table where everyone sits. The cooking class costs about $50 - you learn how to cook good food, get to eat a delicious five course meal, and feel like you're in your grandparents' house. Again, you feel like a guest in their home, not a customer in a restaurant. We'll be back!! :) read more

After returning from Turkey a couple months ago my wife and I have been yearning for authentic Turkish cuisine - Cafe Turko fits the bill perfectly! We went along with one of our sons for an early dinner, ordered 3 different items and all were outstanding. Extremely friendly service, and typically wonderful Turkish hospitality. I had the Ali Nazik, my wife had the Beyti Kebab with Lamb, and son had the Köfte Kebab - all delicious! We also had the Rainbow Hummus Plate and finished off with Turkish Coffee and Chai (of course!) and Baklava. The Owners and servers alike were so welcoming - we are longing for our next trip back to Turkey! read more

Special place in my heart. 6 years later and I still remember the great feeling I had there. Friends, service, food, uniqueness and ambiance. Thank you read more

Absolutely amazing! WOW! I didn't think it was possible to have food that tasted exactly as it did in Turkey in America. The family that owns this restaurant is contagiously kind and they are very welcoming. The woman let us know that she makes everything from scratch every morning, and you can tell it's made with love. SUCH GREAT QUALITY. The **Yam Hummus** is fantastic. I'd go back just for that. The lentil soup is also very delicious! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Tesekkurler! read more

My favorite Turkish getaway in Fremont. At first I feared this would be another watered down, Americanized restaurant - I was happily proven wrong. The decor, welcoming staff, and amazing food proves that they care. It's hard to find restaurants who do care - and when they do it's a transcendental experience. read more

Cafe Turko - Chicken Ali Nazik with Turkish coffee. - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Had dinner there with my honey last night. I ordered the mixed plate with 4 types of meats or Süleyman the Magnificent. Out of the 4 or 5 that was there I really loved the grilled lamb and grilled chicken. I thought the chicken meatball, köfte, and lamb and mint meatball, doner, were a bit dry but pretty decent tasting. I only had half of each. I also got the gyro meat type thing with tomato sauce on my plate. That was tasty too. I love the side salad they served on the plate. it was very flavorful! And the rice was very moist and the addition of the chick peas made it special! The yogurt sauce was to die for. I dipped the grilled lamb in it and omg I was moaning! My bf got the grilled chicken plate which he loved. I think I might order the same plate with grilled lamb instead of chicken the next time. We both had the Turkish lemonade with sour cherry and mint. It was very good! Freshly squeeze too! Tips: when you walk in make eye contact with someone and seat yourself but make sure they see where you're sitting. We waited at the door to be greeted or seated but the servers just stare at us and continue doing what they were doing until I actually put up my hand and asked to be seated after 10 minutes of awkwardly standing there. Saw other people did the same thing, one couple was standing there and then finally seated themselves but never got service until they actually walked up to the counter to get their own menu and told the server that they were seated there for the last 15 mins. Don't get me wrong they were really friendly and the food come out quickly. But they should be more observant or their customers. We flagged down 3 servers trying to get our bill. It took about 15 minutes after the first one until we finally got our bill. Our server seem to have forgotten and the two other ones didn't care because it wasn't their section. But aside from that mishap and the fact that the food was sooo good we would go back again just for that. But maybe now will have lower expectations of the service and just plan ahead to be there longer and maybe we can go pay at the till. Would've given it 5 stars otherwise. read more

Cafe Turko - Mixed plate - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best Mediterranean food In the states! Vegan Alert!!! Awesome vegan and gluten free options. The atmosphere was incredible, great service, and unbelievable food. Desert and Turkish coffee to end the meal. We even bought some coffee to take home and their Zatar seasoning. MUST GO! We will definitely be going back ASAP. read more

Cafe Turko - Turkish Coffee & Turkish Dream - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Me and my friends went there and we asked the lady ( the owner ) to put us what food she recommend so she was serving us happily and kindly different kind of appetizers then some pies with turkish tea followed with turkish dessert and turkish coffee . we were so happy and she was bring the food by her self asking us what we think then she sat with us had small conversation and we took a picture with her . We had great time totally recommend it read more

Sometimes the food and service are amazing. Other times they miss the mark on both. Last time I ate my favorite dish there, it was very salty. read more

Their new location is great. A lot more room and I cannot wait until summer to sit on their patio :) The food is good and almost what you would have in Istanbul. There are many options on the menu so this place is good for large parties where everyone can find something they like. read more

This place rocks! I've never had anything that didn't blow me away and leave me craving more the next day. The people are also genuinely nice and you can tell they care about their business and the service they're providing. The eggplant beyti is to die for! Get it to go and eat it at Gasworks (but don't forget to pick up your trash after)! read more

Food is delicious, staff is nice and relaxed, service is for the most part good, vibe/ambiance/aesthetic are all pleasant. Worth an add to your list of go-to spots. The only knock is take-out; food seems less consistent and is never ready when you arrive to pick it up, regardless of time passed. Update: Look, just don't offer takeout if you don't want to do it. It is a miserable experience every time. read more

Turkish coffee and amazing halal food, couldn't really ask for more. (Except for unlimited refills of Turkish coffee, but it's probably best for my health that they're not...) Beyti kebab is great, it is my top food choice here. They also have lots of different kinds of hummus options. I've been here soooo many times and I'll keep going back because of the food, drinks, atmosphere, and location. read more

If you'd like to experience Turkish hospitality, stop by here. After spending some time in Istanbul, I can confidently say this has been the closest replica I've found in the Pacific Northwest. The owners will enchant you will stories and history of their motherland, the colors of all the trinkets will bedazzle you, and the food will awaken your appetite. The café had a very inviting ambiance which will keep me coming back for more. read more

Cafe Turko - Turkish coffee is so strong, that it comes armored. Can you handle it? ;) - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love this place:) The owners are sweethearts and they put their passion into the food being served. I would totally recommend the lamb here, i have not had tender lamb anywhere else in WA besides here! I have brought most of my close friends to this restaurant and they leave loving the place:) Benefits: halal, prayer area, excellent food, and nice owners Cons: service can be slow when busy and/or your in a large group that wants separate checks (hence 4 stars) read more

Yum. I'm usually a little scared of places like this because I never know what to order, but this joint takes Mediterranean food to the next level. read more

Cafe Turko - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Abdullah's lamb is really good. Lamb is juicy and flavorful, also their turkey coffee goes well after a heavy meal.

If you haven't been here - you are missing out! I never knew I liked Turkish food until I tried it here. I LOVE the pide, pistachio baklava and spinach hummus the best but everything else we tried was AMAZING! The service was good and they seemed to care about the customer. I fear that if I eat Turkish food anywhere else, it will never be this good. They spoiled me with wonderful, amazing food and good service. Great job!! read more

Cafe Turko - Turkish coffee - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I couldn't recommend this place enough! My boyfriend and I agreed their hummus was one of the best we've ever had. Also, their dolmas (grape leaves) were the best I've had in America. I like that they make them just like my grandma used to, and that they're served warm. Unique touch- they add an interesting molasses to them.. It's really good! Fun vibe too, the decorations are beautiful. I think what really makes them deserve the 5 stars is the genuine service. The owner came to us twice to make sure we were happy with our experience, and took the time to give his recommendations and answer all our questions. It's a home cooked experience that's hard to find in a city. Can't wait to come back! read more

Food was awesome, reasonably priced, and atmosphere was cool with Turkish decor. Lots of great options for carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Would have given it 5 stars had the service been better. Waiting staff was not very attentive. We had to wait quite a while for menus. Had to get up and snag our own silverware and napkins. Waited so long for our check that we just ended up just going up to the register without it. read more

Excellent food. Excellent service. I really wanted to try Turkish food and we waited in line for a good 10 minutes and realized that this place was POPULAR so we went and had drinks elsewhere and came back. So happy we did! Instead of telling you all that we tried, I'm just going to ask that you make a trip there now and try everything! Enjoy. read more

Went there yesterday for Dinner and I have to say it was my first time trying Turkish cuisine, place with beautiful decorations and friendly staff welcomed us. Server was very helpful and chose our dinner, which were Rainbow Hummus plate and Ali Nazik with Lamb. It was soooo good with rich and all kinds of different flavor that we even forgot to take pictures! Well maybe I could take pictures next time when we visit. Must try this place when you're in the area! read more

They actually deserve 5 stars for the food and 2 stars for the service. Amazing food, awful/slow service. The food doesn't really take a long time to come out once you've ordered it, but be prepared to be forgotten once your food comes. No water refills, no check in to see if you need/want anything else. The last time I went, I almost even walked out on my tab because after they dropped my check no one ever came back to get/run my credit card. I waited about 15 min before just leaving a $20 on the table. If I didn't have the cash, I would have just left. The bad service is really a shame because the food is so damn good. read more

This place is amazing. I love the food and the decor. Staff are always very nice and friendly. The menu offers a very good variety. My favorites include the spinach hummus and Eskandar (not in the menu). Strongly recommend Cade Turko read more

Cafe Turko - Halal Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I think I caught something here. Alinazek MANIA. So savory, so juicy, so delicious. The rice has the perfect bite (in terms of texture), buttery, and light. Everything is made right in the light of this delight. read more

I used to love this place, but their customers service is going backward and their prices are going up. But what I really do not understand is why we have to wait for 20 mins. when half the restaurant is empty!! read more

My favorite restaurant in Seattle. You feel welcomed, you have the tastiest food ever (we have tried almost all their menu so you cannot go wrong!)....... So really just go, order anything, and enjoy! read more

Hate to give a poor review. Honestly the food was awesome. Well worth going out of your way to eat there. The service brought the score down. Waitresses, there were two. They came by, brought water then the food and never saw them again. No more water, no offer for dessert. Couldn't even flag them down. One had a friend visit and decided to catch up rather than tend to tables. The other was all over the place trying to take care of everyone else. Was there for over an hour just for lunch, trying to get service. Food made it almost worth it read more