The food is always fantastic. The veggie sandwich has this yummy sauce and Kalamata olives! The gentleman behind the counter are always so kind. You can feel a deep sense of respect and humbleness and appreciation from them for your business. read more

Stopped by Istanbul Gyro & Kebab with a few coworkers for a quick birthday lunch. I ordered the traditional gyro platter with an upgraded Greek salad. The food was fantastic. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and authentic, and you can watch it being prepared in the open kitchen. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal, and there were no complaints about the food at all. What made the experience a little strange was the service. During our visit, the owner was noticeably short with the one and only server and spoke to her in a way that felt belittling, especially in front of customers. It was uncomfortable to watch. At the same time, the waitress asked us to leave her tip in cash or through Cash App before we had even received our food. That felt a little unusual and off-putting, as though we were being steered toward a specific way of tipping before any service had really happened. She had also mentioned that a birthday treat was coming out, but after we waited for a bit, she came back and told us the owner was upset with her and wasn't sending it out after all. That was odd and left us a little confused. Overall, it was a weird experience from a service standpoint, but the food was genuinely excellent. If you're going for authentic gyros and Mediterranean food, it's worth a visit. Just be prepared that the atmosphere may be a little unpredictable. read more

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Delish! It looked closed bc of the ongoing road construction. But, it's open! With parking in the back. Friendly staff and yummy smells greeted us. It's small and cozy and cute inside with pictures of Istanbul all around to celebrate the namesake of the place/food. We arrived about an hour before closing and there was only one other patron inside so we were seated and greeted quickly. It's simple here but they have all the usuals and my friend and I each got a chicken gyro made fresh. Nice portion and it was yummy. I want to come back and try the baklava and Turkish coffee! They also have kebabs and hummus that looked wonderful. If you love this type of food - come support this business that's really in a bad spot due to the ongoing road work. It's worth it!!! read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Chicken Gyro Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The decor is out dated, but never judge by that. The service was spot on, and very nice. So it made it more pleasing to try it out. Tried puffed spinach pastry.Omg...so delicious! The "Gyros" was also delicious and tasty. They do not skim on the meat. I had enough left overs to make another one for later. Lol Definitely ask what they have special for today. Cause they do have other dishes not listed on the menu. Will definitely come back when in the area. read more

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I paid $30 for a mixed kebab bowl and soup, but the portions were much smaller than shown on the menu and not worth the price read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - I paid $30 for a mixed kebab bowl and soup, but the portions were much smaller than shown on the menu and not worth the price - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We needed a quick bite between events and decided to try this place. It's a very visible location but a little difficult to get to. We used the street parking however learned there is parking behind the restaurant too. The place was completely empty on a Saturday afternoon. We were pleasantly greeted by the cashier/host and informed to pick our own seat. The place is small with maybe 6-7 tables total. There's a nice variety of green and middle eastern foods. I shared the mixed grill platter and a lamb gyro. I wanted fries but didn't see any one the menu and didn't ask if they had them. Our food was made fresh and came out quickly, piping hot. The mixed grill platter had a nice serving of lamb gyro meat, beef kabobs, grilled chicken and grilled steak along side a serving of rice. All of the meat items were flavorful, tender and cooked to perfection. The grilled chicken and sliced lamb were my favorite on the platter. The rice was ok. It was softer than my liking but I appreciate that it was authentic rice and not parboiled. The gyro was the star of the meal. It was perfection. Generous slices of lamb gyro meat, lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki all wrapped up in a soft pita. Everything was great about that gyro. The only bonus would have been a side of fries. Overall we enjoyed our meal and will definitely visit again. read more

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Super yummy, gyro was hot and filling. Definitely get the Turkish delights. Service was great and super fast.

Short review. Took some customers here for lunch since it was right next to our meeting location. It's not large with seating but it's diner style. I had the lamb and beef wrap and we shared some hummus. Bothe were excellent. Staff hustled and was friendly. Prices are reasonable. Definitely give them a try. You'll like it. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

If you love good Mediterranean cuisine, check out Istanbul Gyro & Kebab located just off Brambleton Avenue across the street from the Scope in the heart of downtown Norfolk. These guys are doing it right. They are serving up authentic Mediterranean food that will absolutely amaze you. I'm a big fan of their Kebabs, especially the kind served in the warm pita bread and topped with Taziki sauce. It's so yummy, I don't know the words to describe it. read more

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I come here all of the time. It's great for a quick lunch or sit down dinner. Very affordable and one of my favorite places in Downtown Norfolk to get a gyro read more

Great restaurant. Friendly staff, food came out fresh as they cooked when ordered. Good portion of meat on the pita. Will definitely be back. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Lamb and Beef Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I've never dined on location, but I usually call in for pickup for their lunch special. The people here are always friendly, and the food is always good. They keep their prices fair, too. I always go for the gyro lunch special, but today, I had the lamb shish kebab, and it was so good. I'm glad this is in the neighborhood. Hope to try their other dishes and their Turkish coffee next, but it's hard to stray away from their gyros and kebabs because they're too good. read more

The food was exactly what we wanted and hoped for! While simple, our kebab platters were delicious, light on the stomach, and filling. They look modest in size but I could barely finish everything! The Turkish coffee was good and was served in these little metal/porcelain cups that I wish I knew the name of. I had their baklava for the first time and was scared but it tasted amazing! Was not expecting the Turkish delight to be as sweet and warm as it was and it was so good. The establishment looks unimportant on the outside but is definitely worth the try. There were only two men who were working the front and one of them served us. Very friendly service and quick. Overall a great experience, would love to be back to try something else on their menu. read more

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It's been quite some time since I've been here pre Covid era. I had the lamb kabobs gyro and hummus. I remember the hummus tasting better but it was fine just not like before the lamb was cooked well on a flat top. read more

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I tried this place based on the great reviews. I honestly don't know how the reviews are real. I tried the lamb and beef wrap and was I highly disappointed with such a dry meal. I paid for extra sauce and was given a side of sauce but nothing in the wrap. I had to pay extra for feta. Overcharged for a meal I didn't even eat. It's just meat, lettuce and chopped tomatoes. Guess I traveled too much to know this isn't close to the real thing. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Lamb and beef wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The interior is a little small, but that just adds to the local, hole-in-the-wall feel. I ordered the chicken gyro wrap and hummus. Both were AMAZING! The hummus was hands down the best I've had outside of the Mediterranean. The service was great. We went 20 minutes to closing, but they were still so accommodating! read more

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This restaurant was close to the chrysler museums, and we walked there in about 10 minutes. Immediately we were greeted with friendly smiles and the serving counter seated us immediately. Quiet, quaint, and beautiful decorations everywhere inside. I was so surprised by this Greek hole-in-the-wall food, but it was delicious! $8.99 for a chicken gyro wrap that was stuffed with vegetables and freshly grilled, well-marinated chicken! When I asked for no onions on my wrap, the waitress immediately asked if I wanted to sub more lettuce or cucumbers-free of charge! I really appreciated this small gesture of thoughtfulness. A lot of places will nickel-and-dime you for similar requests. If you're ever in downtown Norfolk and want a quick, comforting bite (especially for lunch) this is your place to go. The chefs and serving staff nailed my order and the flavor was soaked into the gyros. read more

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This place is awesome for traditional Greek food. Their chicken is seasoned well, rice is always hot, and their salad has enough dressing. The food is prepared fresh and there isn't a long wait. The service is very attentive and the atmosphere isn't too loud. I definitely recommend this place if you are in Norfolk and would like authentic Mediterranean food. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Chicken, rice, and Greek salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Great place to get your real gyro. 5 out 5. It was juicy and made me full. Good prices as well. read more

Went with friends after visiting The Chrysler Museum. Great service, good food with healthy portion sizes. I had the cold cucumber soup which was good but not as cold as I expected. Definitely friendly service providers and accommodated all of us (10) without a glitch. More of a diner vibe, it was a nice place to relax, have a meal and chat with friends. read more

This little place is a diamond in the rough. Great food at very reasonable prices. The staff definitely treats you right as well. They have some good choices for keto meals as well. read more

Excellent food and prices, friendly service. Try the Turkish coffee! My new favorite restaurant in Norfolk. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Turkish Coffee, Lamb Gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Good atmosphere, quick service, food smelled and tasted delicious so id give it a 5 star. Amazing grab and go spot.

I can't say enough good things about this place. They're so friendly and welcoming. The smells are amazing. The food is amazing. I stuck with the veggie sandwich and the eggplant salad. Wow! What a meal! I have been recommending this place by word of mouth; now I'm here. The building is a very cute look, so make sure to check out the details while you're there. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Main road sign - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab is a local Mediterranean spot that offers various appetizers (hummus, stuffed grape leaves, eggplant salad, etc.), soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, kebabs, and desserts. The hubs was in the mood for gyros, so we decided to stop by here to check them out. We ordered a Lamb and Beef Gyro sandwich, which came stuffed with onions, sliced tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce, all in a thick pita bread. I like my gyro more thin and crispy, while the hubs prefers thicker slices that are juicier; this was the latter, and the hubs enjoyed it. Also, they didn't skimp out on the tzatziki sauce, which was great! Staff here are kind and welcoming, and there are plenty of booths and seating inside; most patrons seem to order their items to go. I'd like to try out their hummus and their wraps the next time. Plenty of free street parking around the restaurant. +friendly service +plenty of free street parking around the restaurant read more

What a lovely unassuming spot for a bite! I walked here for lunch from the Chrysler Museum after not being able to get into the café at the museum without a lengthy wait. I was greeted immediately with smiles and quickly found a seat. The view from the street is nothing spectacular and neither is the interior, but I highly enjoyed the service, food and vibe. I got the chicken gyro and the seasoning was delightful on the meat! I appreciated that our server immediately asked if I wanted to sub another vegetable for tomatoes when I asked to keep them off. I got some extra lettuce and cucumbers at no additional charge. I could see this being a very popular lunch/early dinner joint for me if I was living downtown. Very reasonable pricing too! It was easy to tell the staff took pride in their work, understandably so! It was brilliant. Will most certainly be returning. read more

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I just paid $15 for a supposed veggie wrap and a drink. The wrap was missing the veggies. It tasted good but I was totally underwhelmed with this lunch!! I guess I should've ordered lamb read more

Local business with really good non fussy food. They are fast and the their Gyros are BOMB.

I enjoy their Turkish coffee ..had the chicken kebab and baklava ... very tasty Prices are reasonable ... parking in the rear .. Staff are friendly and quick To answer questions... I will be back to try more from their menu . read more

Very good, but food overpriced. I paid $38.00 for two gyros and a chicken kebab platter. That's insane.

This place hits the spot every.single.TIME. I got the mixed kebab this time, everything was delicious and fresh. Definitely made my whole lunch break better. read more

If you're looking for an authentic gyro, you have to try this place. The lamb and beef gyros are AMAZING! The hummus is delicious also. We will definitely be back regularly read more

My bestie treated me to this hidden gem in Norfolk. The outside of the restaurant is deceiving. I've passed that restaurant a many of days. Please do not judge the exterior. The food was freshly cooked and so delicious. We had the chicken platter with coffee and dessert. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Istanbul Gyro and Kebab first opened in 2011 on Monticello Avenue next to the Greyhound Bus Station, which is soon scheduled for demolition to make way for an expansion of Tidewater Community College. The restaurant is owned and operated by Ozturk and Erkan Karasow, whose Turkish heritage is reflected in their recipes. It was a former pizza shop and soul food eatery during two of its previous lives. It occupies a sleepy and well worn building in an awkward low profile spot. Its signage catches the eye, but it is easy to miss the one-way turn into the driveway of their parking lot. I find it easier to find an on-street parking space a short block away in the NEON district of Granby Street, near the Fuzion Ink Tattoo Studio or the old Bress Pawn Shop that closed last year. It's an easy task to walk on over. The restaurant is actually located within the NEON district boundaries. As the district continues to flourish, its vibe will hopefully breathe some new life into the restaurant. It can use a new paint job and some artistic touches. The main entrance is located at the side of the building along their parking lot driveway. As you enter, there are three counter seats on the left and a row of booths on the right with a red trimmed wall of windows facing Monticello Avenue. There are a few tables in the rear. Soft tunes of Middle Eastern instrumental music provide a relaxing and soothing vibe. Several pictures of Turkish scenery dot the walls. Everybody who has served me has been friendly and accommodating. I have tried the following so far: CHICKEN GYRO SANDWICH: Char Grilled Chicken with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Tzatziki Sauce in Pita Bread. All the ingredients tasted fresh, and the smoky flavor and juicy texture of the chicken came through nicely. It is larger than it looks from my photo and filled me up. I would have preferred just a few more veggies in the mix. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. BEEF SHISH KEBAB SANDWICH: Grilled Slices of Beef with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Tzatziki Sauce in Pita Bread. The sandwich was filled with large chunks of succulent and tasty beef. There were a few more veggies this time around. Again, it filled me up nicely. It could have been a little warmer temperature wise, as a few bites were barely lukewarm. My Rating: 4 Stars. I applaud them for serving their sandwiches on real plates instead of flopping them down upon these trendy metal paper lined trays I've been seeing lately. Presenting sandwiches in this manner leaves unsightly wet spots that I find aesthetically unappealing. GREEK SALAD WITH CHICKEN: Grilled Chicken with Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, Olives, Feta Cheese, and House Dressing. Their Greek salads come in two sizes, and I chose the smaller of the two. Grilled chunks of chicken were added to an otherwise basic and ordinary Greek salad. Its plating was well presented. Some of the chicken chunks were a bit dry. My Rating: 3.5 Stars. ISKENDER: Gyro Meat topped with Spicy Tomato Sauce over Pieces of Grilled Pita Bread. Served with Rice and Tzatziki Sauce. Chosen from their list of Mediterranean Specialties, this dish hails from northwestern Turkey. It was created by Iskender Efendi, who lived during the late 19th century Ottoman empire. According to Turkish lore, he called himself Master Alexander in honor of Alexander The Great. The gyro meat, a mixture of beef and lamb carved fresh from their vertical spit, delivered a delicious and full bodied taste and texture. The spicy tomato sauce exhibited a tremendous depth of flavor with an exhilarating yet mildly spicy zing. All the flavors and textures came through harmoniously. It could have come with a little more rice, but that's on me for not asking for more. In short, I loved this dish. My Rating: 5 Stars. SPINACH AND FETA CHEESE PIE: Chosen from their list of Appetizers, this one was actually a Greek style Spanikopita. Unfortunately, their version was a disappointment. The spinach and feta cheese were lackluster in flavor, tucked away between layers of phyllo dough with textures that were more limp than crispy and flaky. Overall, it tasted tired and worn. My Rating: 2 Stars. BAKLAVA: A classic Middle Eastern dessert, this is the most enjoyable version I've tasted in recent memory. Chopped nuts, cinnamon, and butter were tucked between layers of phyllo dough that were delightfully more crispy and flaky this time around. A thin yet pleasant molasses based topping avoided the overly sweet and syrupy versions I've encountered with too many versions elsewhere. My Rating: 5 Stars. A spokesperson for the NEON district has informed me that this restaurant has their support. I hope their efforts succeed in giving it the boost and higher profile it deserves. The average rating for all of the dishes I've tried so far, in spite of one disappointment, comes out to a 4.0 star rating on the nose. I am looking forward to some more visits and want to try their Mixed Gyro Platter next. read more

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Amazing Turkish food! We've been talking about stopping by for months and we finally had an opportunity to go. We got the spinach pie, beef and lamb gyro and chicken kebab platter. Everything was flavorful and the food was clean. Not greasy or over-sauced! The atmosphere is casual and a lot of people were stopping by the lunch counter getting to go orders. Service was fast and professional. This is a new favorite! We'll be back! read more

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Excellent Gyro! Great flavor. Smaller interior dining area. If I'm in the area, will definitely stop by again. read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Greek Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Very delicious and good quality food. Pretty similar to what you'd find in Istanbul. Highly recommended.

Service excellent accommodation Food is great. I feel bad for you if you drive by and never try this food it is prepared well. Tastes great. Ambiance not so much read more

Very friendly staff - I will start of with that. They have a small parking lot in the back. The food is all freshly prepared and great. Not huge portions but good for a meal. read more

Love this place. The owner is nice. The food is amazing. We eat here often. If I could, I'd eat here twice a week. I've tried everything! All amazing! read more

Istanbul Gyro & Kebab - Grilled Lamb platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia