Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Istanbul Blue

    4.1 (348 reviews)
    ModerateMediterranean

    Istanbul Blue Photos

    Business Info

    ISTANBUL BLUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Istanbul Blue

    Recommended Reviews - Istanbul Blue

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tasty cigars are crisp and light
    Nancy R.

    Istanbul Blue is one of those neighborhood spots that we need to think of visiting more often.  It is calm and clean and the parking is easy.  Service is pleasant and prompt and, of course, the food is tasty.  We especially enjoyed the lamb shank which had plenty of very tender meat in a delicious sauce.  It is moments like these that make us even more grateful when a restaurant has great bread to dip in!

    Marjan W.

    Visited a few weeks ago for an early dinner with my parents. This is conveniently located near Vienna and Oakton with easy parking. I loved the blue decor inside, it made for a beautiful atmosphere. We started with the Istanbul blue mixed platter as an appetizer. This was delicious, however, the bread to accompany it took some time to come out and when it came out, it was a little charred. I didn't have an issue with this but my mom requested different bread. I wish the bread was ready before we finished half the appetizer, especially because the restaurant wasn't too busy. The falafel and the cigari borek were excellent. Falafel is usually hit or miss because I've had it back in the Middle East so many times but this was very well done. We also got the Lahmacun which was delicious but my mom wished it was less charred/burnt. I didn't mind the crispyness. We got two Pides, the cheese one was my favorite. The star of the show was definitely the mixed grill, which came with rice and Cacik (yogurt dip) which was so fresh. The doner was excellent but the lamb was my favorite. Lamb is also hit or miss for me as I don't like when it tastes gamey but this was so well done. Overall, service was good but a little slower but that just may be because it's European/Middle Eastern. I will definitely be back as the food was excellent!

    Falafel, dense and dry
    Aarti B.

    Delicious authentic Turkish food bursting with flavor! Definitely get the Istanbul Blue sampler! Great mom and pop restaurant with excellent service that really goes the extra mile. Istanbul Blue sampler (5/5) - Fun way to dapple into the appetizers and try the dips. The crispy Cigars Borek phyllo pastry was the stand-out, filled with soft cheese that paired so well with the dips - hummus, baba ganoush, and garlicky feta spinach cheese. The nice staff easily accommodated my request to swap out the dolma grape leaves for the baba ganoush - glad I asked! The complementary bread is quite dense and filling, not as fluffy as I expected. It's better warmed up (if you get delivery or take-out). I wasn't a big fan of the falafel, it was very dense and dry to the bone. I would love to swap it out for another cigar borek! There was plenty of leftover dip for the next meal! Spinach Pide (1/5) - Not a fan of the pide, it was too cheesy and did NOT matched the photo depicted on the menu which had a lot more spinach and much less cheese. The cheese to veggies ratio was really off. After a few bites, my stomach started churning and threw in the towel. When I opened up the box, I saw a veggie pide with tomatoes and bell peppers and scant spinach, did I get it mixed up? Bbut after looking at other Yelp pics, the spinach pide look the same. I would skip the spinach pide and save room for the Sampler! Excited to come back for some Cigar Borek with some hummus, baba ganoush, and garlicky feta spinach cheese goodness!

    Istanbul Blue Platter was so very delicious!
    Linda B.

    It was our first time here and it was so delicious with great service! We started off with some nice, strong Turkish coffee which was delicious! We ordered the lahmacun appetizer which was phenomenal with amazing flavor! My friend ordered the Istanbul Blue mixed grill which consisted of grilled beef and chicken, lamb chops, and doner kebab and served with rice for his entree and it was so delicious. I ordered the chicken yogurt which consisted of two grilled skewers of chicken marinated with olive oil, tomato, and pepper which was served on a bed of bread chunks, tomato, and yogurt sauce. It was very good, but the yogurt sauce made the bread extremely soggy, hence the four stars versus five. We then got the baklava dessert to split which was excellent! We will most definitely go back, but I will order a different entree for sure. We would definitely recommend this restaurant!

    Kofte Kebab

    A messed up reservation at Carnegie Diner led 6 of us to need another place for brunch. We walked across the parking lot and Istanbul Blue quickly accommodated us. I was planning on coming back here and this visit was as good as the first - so a lucky mix up. I had the yummy Kofte Kebab - a very generous portion, a glass of very good Anatolian wine, and Kunefe for desert. Our waitress was personable and deftly handed separate checks. The relaxed atmosphere allowed us to linger and talk. Great experience. Next time I won't wait so long.

    Istanbul Blue Platter
    Grace W.

    After reading the reviews my friends and I had high hopes. First- decor is outdated and feels antiquated. The servers were nice but service was extremely slow - took over twenty minutes to get drinks and we had to ask for ice four times because the water was not cold . The app and meals took a long time to come out and had we not asked we would never have gotten our check. We were there almost two hours. My friend's whisky sour was made incorrectly with cheap booze and tasted awful and it looked like the server had no idea how to make it and was googling it. The sampler platter was decent until my friend ate a wiry piece of grayish/silver hair from the chef. She is very nice and didn't complain to anyone while she was there. The chef did not have a hairnet at all and she could see him in the kitchen. The yogurt chicken was ok, the pieces of bread were too soggy, wish I had ordered rice instead. My other friends had the beef kabobs, and ground lamb/beef with rice and yogurt and it was fine but nothing special. Prices are on the high end for average quality at best. Even a side of fries was over $7. And to top it off a guy sitting at one of the tables went out to smoke through the back door and left it open and wafts of smoke were coming in. Clearly it was someone who works there or the owner. He just helped himself to beer and food and was at the back talking with the servers. It is disgusting to have smoke coming in while dining. We will not be coming back here.

    Imam Bayildi which is an eggplant appetizer that's delicious. This is a cold dish with meat but nicely prepared.
    Patrick C.

    We enjoyed a pleaser afternoon lunch with the family at this quaint restaurant. The owner was pleasant and came to talk to us to ensure we enjoyed our meal. I'm curious where they get they lamb because it was awesome. The meat was so tender and tasty. I also liked the Iskenderun Kebab which had crunchy pita chips and yogurt under the delicious meat dish. We'll definitely go back.

    amira B.

    Here is my second time at Istanbul blue.I love this place.The food is so good. Starters Entrees and deserts are so yummy.Adana Kabab and Kasandibi are my favorite.After trying many Turkish restaurants in the area I can say Istanbul blue is the best.Thank you chef Ismat.

    Inside dining
    Tom S.

    We were in the mood to try something different. I have only had Turkish food a several times. We decided to give Instanbul Blue visit. This place has received quite few good reviews on yelp. It is a small resturant in a stripmall. The resturant is small and cozy. There were not a lot of customers there when we arrived. We sat at the front by the window against the wall. Very cozy and quiet. The resturant is very nice and clean. I will say the waiter was there when we needed him to be. He let us have space and time to enjoy the meal. I wanted to try the Instanbul blue mix drink but unfortuanlly they ran out of what was needed to make the drink. We also ordered ice tea but unfortuanlly there were out of tea as well. There is a nice selection of offerings on the menu. For appitizers we ordered the Lentil soup and the Instanbul Blue Platter which consisted of a combination of appetizers: 3 cigara boreks, 3 yaprak, dolmas, hummus, feta cheese & falafel. The Lentil soup is rich but flavorful not overly spiced. The waiter also brought our a loaf of bread. I ending up dunking the bread in soup. That could be a meal in it self. Very satisfing. I envjoyed everything on Instanbul Blue Platter. I am not a big flafel person but these were quite tasty. The main course we had the Fresh Mediterranian Branzini Fish (whole fish). This came with rice or vegtable skewers. We ended up getting the vegtable skewers and a side salad. We love Banzini fish and this was amazing. The spices were just right. Fish was cooked perfectly. We also had the Instanblue Mixed Grill. This was a combination of grilled specialties of beef shish kebob, chicken kebob, lamb chops & doner, served with rices. Every piece of meat on this platter was cooked perfectly, very juicy, well seasoned. I ended up ordering the Doner Kebob / Shwarma togo for lunch the next day. For dessert we had the Baklava with pistachio. Very delicious and not to sweet. Overall this resturant did not disappoint. Food was very delicios. Service was great. There is a large shared parking lot. I can see it being full at times there was quite a bit a traffic there. Overall a solid 4 stars. I will definitly be back.

    Baba ghanoush
    Tulshi P.

    I very much enjoyed their baba ghanoush but the falafel wraps were just okay. The falafel was very dry and overall not very appetizing, so i would give this a 3. But an extra star for their great service. Due to an error on their part when making the wraps, they made it up with some baklava and Turkish tea.

    Kunefe Turkish national dessert
    Iris F.

    Wonderful food, wonderful ambiance and great service and staff. Fantastic evening. We'll be back

    Excellent meals and service. Thanks to chef & owner Mr Ismet, everything was great! Excited to be back as soon as possible!

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Amazing Turkish food. We had the cheese pide and Adana kebab. Will definitely go again!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Turkish food centrally located in Vienna. The masukaa is amazing. Cute upstairs seating

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom S.
    4
    196
    4654

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Iris F.
    0
    12
    15

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ismet G.

    Ismet G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kapil C.
    229
    10
    72

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of MS P.

    MS P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ML F.
    46
    27
    37

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of NIkky G.
    0
    167
    91

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious food. Great friendly service. Takes you straight to Turkey. Owner/chef is super nice

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Istanbul Blue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Istanbul Blue

    Are there vegetarian options?

    Yes. There are many eggplant based dishes on the menu, hummus, etc. The lentil soup, in particular, is an amazing experience. I would go to Istanbul Blue just for the lentil soup. There are obviously many meat based dishes, too-- like kabobs and… 

    Is there a Happy Hour special here?

    yes every Wednesday between 12-16.00 PM We offer 20%OFF in our kabobs

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Nostos - Wine and dessert!

    Nostos

    4.2(636 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$

    We came here for a dinner meeting with the local security professionals. There was ample parking…read moreavailable around the building. Because we were a large party they placed us in the extension/back room, but even though we were still far from the main part of the restaurant was still very loud, having said that the food was terrific, and the service was very good. The food has Greek authenticity to it, which also makes it a little bland, but definitely flavorful. I would recommend this place to others if you've never been here.

    I had a date here for dinner and I really enjoyed myself. As soon as we walked in we were…read moreimmediately greeted by the friendly host. We did not make a reservation but fortunately, were were able to sit at a high top table near the bar. Then our waitress came over and explained the menu and suggested some drinks. She was very knowledgeable about the menu. For drinks we ordered a cucumber tequila drink and a rum cocktail. The cucumber cocktail was refreshing and wasn't too strong. The rum cocktail was a bit bitter and we were not able to drink so we ordered the cucumber drink instead. For our entrees we ordered the Paidakia which was lamb chops with asparagus and potatoes. We also ordered Arni Youvetsi which was the lamb shank braised with wine tomato sauce over orzo. The lamb chops were cooked to perfection as I ordered them medium well. The asparagus and potatoes were well seasoned and very tender and flavorful. The lamb shank was delicious as the meat fell off the bone. It was both very tender and flavorful. The orzo was cooked to perfection and the wine sauce complemented the lamb shank quite well. Overall, it was a great experience. I always enjoy Greek food and Nostos was no exception. I will return soon to try some other entrees. If you are in the area, I recommend stopping by. Cheers!

    Photos
    Nostos - Dining area

    Dining area

    Nostos
    Nostos - Trio of yummy dips

    See all

    Trio of yummy dips

    Joon - Inside

    Joon

    4.2(641 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$
    Private events
    Large group friendly

    Dear Joon Management,…read more My family and I have been regular customers at your restaurant since March because we truly enjoy your excellent Persian food. I have also brought many coworkers and friends to introduce them to your restaurant. Unfortunately, during every visit over the past several months, the rice has been excessively salty. It tastes as though salt was added to the rice rather than the rice being properly seasoned. In May, I brought eight guests, and nearly everyone left their rice untouched. In early July, I returned with four people, and once again no one ate the rice. We mentioned the issue to our waiter, who was very polite and said he would inform the manager and the cook. On the third Wednesday of July, I came with two friends, and once again none of us ate the rice. I spoke with the manager, who was very kind and assured me she would discuss the issue with the cook. Unfortunately, despite reporting the problem more than once, nothing has changed. If this had happened only once, I would not be writing this email. However, after several disappointing visits, I expected that our meals would have been replaced or that we would not have been charged for food that was left uneaten because of the overly salted rice. I respectfully request that you consider providing a refund or another appropriate resolution for our most recent visit. More importantly, I hope this issue is corrected so future customers can fully enjoy your excellent food. If our feedback is important to you, I would appreciate hearing from you. I would also like to share your response with the friends and coworkers I have encouraged to visit your restaurant. My name is David A., and my email address is Shirpelang@gmail.com. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, David A.

    First time at Joon, and it was a great intro. Went with a friend for social hour and shared a…read morespread: the Joon burger, lamb and pistachio meatballs, falafel, lamb hummus, and French fries. Everything was delicious, no weak dish in the bunch. The meatballs and falafel especially stood out, but honestly the whole table was clean by the end. We also tried the Fig Old Fashioned and the Hafizz Spritz. The Fig Old Fashioned was the standout of the night: bourbon sweetened with fig cordial and warmed with Angostura bitters. Perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and dangerously easy to drink. The Hafizz Spritz was refreshing too, cucumber, lime, and mint with gin, prosecco rosé, and elderflower, but the Fig Old Fashioned is the one I'm already thinking about ordering again. Great first visit. Will be back for social hour again.

    Photos
    Joon
    Joon - 7 Sin Nowruz 2025

    7 Sin Nowruz 2025

    Joon - Haleem Bademjoon

    See all

    Haleem Bademjoon

    Agora Tysons - Baba Ghanouj**

    Agora Tysons

    4.2(625 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Agora was an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. Every dish we ordered was…read morebeautifully presented and tasted just as incredible as it looked. The mezze sampler offered a fantastic variety of fresh flavors, the watermelon and feta appetizer was refreshing and unique, and the cocktails were both creative and expertly crafted. Even the warm pita served with the dips was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was inviting, upscale without feeling pretentious, and perfect for a relaxing meal. The service was attentive, friendly, and helped make the evening even more enjoyable. The only negative was that the restaurant didn't carry cash on hand to make change when people wanted change for a cash tip.

    Agora is one of my favorite spots in Tysons when I'm in the mood for tapas. The food is…read moreconsistently very good, the ambiance is warm and inviting, and the décor gives the restaurant a unique feel that's perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. The staff has always been friendly and attentive. On this visit, we ordered the appetizer sampler, lamb chops, and the Adana kabab. Everything was excellent. The appetizer sampler is a great way to start the meal, the lamb chops were cooked perfectly, and the Adana kabab was flavorful and well seasoned. My only disappointment came at the end of the meal. We were planning to order dessert, but the kitchen had already closed. It would have been nice if our server had stopped by a few minutes earlier to let us know the kitchen was about to close and ask if we wanted to order anything else. That small bit of communication would have made the experience even better. Overall, this is still a great restaurant with delicious food, excellent service, and a beautiful atmosphere. Just keep in mind that the kitchen may close earlier than you expect, so if you're thinking about dessert or another course, order it before the kitchen shuts down.

    Photos
    Agora Tysons - Turkish Tea

    Turkish Tea

    Agora Tysons - Fresh pita

    Fresh pita

    Agora Tysons - Purple Kelebek cocktail

    See all

    Purple Kelebek cocktail

    Shamshiry - Salmon

    Shamshiry

    3.8(1.3k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    For a late Friday dinner (late for me at least), I arrived at Shamshiry at 10pm to a packed…read moreestablishment. My friend and I managed do get one of the few remaining open tables so. I ordered the Chelo kebab kubideh ($20.99). This entree had 2 ground meat skewers, a grilled tomato, raw onion, and rice. The skewers were not simply juicy and well spiced. They redefined how much flavor I could expect out of grilled ground meat, making others taste flat or missing something. The rice portion was absurd. I hadn't eaten anything all day, and yet could barely finish it. I passed out in a food coma afterwards.

    My sister had recommended this spot to me because she knew I enjoyed Persian kebab, and when I had…read morea chance to be near today I stopped in. First, I didn't realize it was a sit down and order restaurant, I was used to short order. I was quickly seared and within a couple minutes one server had brought me water as well as fresh tandoori bread and a delicious spicy green sauce to go with it. A second server appeared quickly to take my order. I explained I was used to short order, and all I wanted was their version of chicken and steak (not ground beef.) The waiter explained how he'd do the combo on the menu and off he went. Having looked at the menu, I feared this might be an expensive option, and it was. But a few minutes later I was presented with a platter of delicious looking steak, chicken, rice, onions, tomato, and event a char-roasted jalapeño. It was enough food for my wife and I have had for dinner between us, so the price was well justified. Every thing was delicious. At the end of the meal, I asked if I could order another tandoori bread, and get a small to-go container of the green spicy spread to bring home for wife to try. They brought me both a generous helping of bread and the sauce, and charged me for neither. This service, combined with a delicious meal that, while expensive, will end up being three meals, means this is definitely a spot I plan to go back to as well as recommend.

    Photos
    Shamshiry - Spacious light dining room

    Spacious light dining room

    Shamshiry - Koobideh

    Koobideh

    Shamshiry - Beautiful deco

    See all

    Beautiful deco

    Istanbul Blue - mediterranean - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...