After our delightful first visit, my wife and I knew we had to come back to Istanbul Kebab House for a proper meal. Last week, we decided to turn our date night into something special with dinner at this Turkish gem followed by a Broadway musical, Newsies, at the Flynn Center. We made a reservation in advance, as this spot is quite popular in the evenings - especially when there's a play happening nearby. The ambiance was inviting and warm, with soft lighting and traditional Turkish decor creating a perfect setting for a romantic evening. The service was exceptional, and our server, Alexandra B., made the experience even more memorable with his attentiveness and friendly demeanor. We started with the Small Meze Platter ($16.99), an excellent choice for sharing. The platter featured haydari, hummus, babaganoush, Turkish salsa, and stuffed grape leaves, all served with soft lavash bread. For those seeking a gluten-free option, fresh-cut veggie sticks are available. Each dip and spread was bursting with flavor, making this a must-try appetizer. For the main course, I chose from the Earthenware Casseroles and ordered the Lamb Guvec ($27.99). The tender, marinated lamb pieces combined with tomato, mushroom, onion, pepper, and eggplant were served sizzling hot, and the aroma alone was irresistible. It was hearty, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the recommended 9oz glass of Vinkara red wine ($16.50). My wife selected the Chicken Adana Kebab ($22.99) from the Traditional Kebabs menu. The mildly spicy, hand-ground chicken seasoned with Turkish maraş pepper and parsley was grilled to perfection and served with Turkish rice pilav, a side of greens, house pickled red cabbage, and marinated onions. She enjoyed every bite and complemented her meal with a 9oz glass of Ancyra white wine ($16.50), which was light and refreshing. To close the evening, we indulged in a classic Turkish dessert, Baklava ($9.99). The layers of fresh phyllo, walnuts, and crushed pistachios, finished with a simple syrup, were the perfect sweet ending to our meal. Istanbul Kebab House continues to impress with its excellent food, cozy ambiance, and impeccable service. Whether it's a casual dinner or a special occasion, this restaurant is a must-visit in Burlington. We'll definitely be back again! read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Lamb Guvec - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Food was tasty and flavorful and the service was fantastic and welcoming. We did find it very overpriced for lunch (small lentil soup $8, wrap with no sides $15). Loved the Turkish black tea, which is a must for tea drinkers! read more

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As usual, Yelp reviews did not steer me wrong. We had a wonderful dinner at Istanbul Kebab House. The service was friendly and very efficient. The inside of the restaurant was warm and inviting. We opted for the outdoor seating, which was comfortable. We started our meal with Stuffed Grape Leaves and Shepard Salad. I'm generally not a fan of Stuffed Grape Leaves, but these were delicious. The Shepard Salad was just ok and we were a bit disappointed by the portion size of the salad. For dinner we ordered the Doner Kebab, Vegetable Stuffed Eggplant, Lamb Shish Kebab, and the Vegetable Guvec. My stuffed Eggplant was absolutely delicious. I would order this same entree in a heartbeat. I don't eat Lamb, but the rest of the table raved about the Lamb Shish Kebab. My husband found the Doner Kebab to be just average. And the Turkish Rice Pudding for dessert is a pass in my book, but my friend liked it. Overall, we had a nice dinner in Burlington before heading back on the Ferry. read more

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Absolutely amazing cannot express how delicious their food is. By far the best hummus I've ever had, the mix grill is usually shared but my boyfriend and I eat one each because it's that good! We love coming here! read more

The place is small and cozy. The staff is welcoming and friendly. We started with the stuffed grape leaves, which were sweeter than others we had, but still very good. The chicken shish kebab was marinated well, full of flavor, and served with rice, pickled cabbage, and pickled onion. The Adana was ground with seasonings and served with the same sides. Each had a distinct flavor, which was appreciated. The rice was somewhat crunchy, which I appreciated but my stablemate did not. Overall, we enjoyed our meals and experience. read more

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We were lucky that there was no wait during our dine as what our friend told us there is usually a wait here. The food was really good! If i could be somewhere in the middleeast then i could say it has an authentic taste! They accept credit/debit. Find a parking garage, if you're lucky you could find a street parking. No high chair. Ambiance feels like in the arabian countries. Customer service is also great. read more

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Don't judge a book by its cover. This place is amazing!!!! They get busy fast. If you dont have a reservation, they will sit you outside. Get a reservation if you can. We were lucky enough to sit inside the tiny restaurant. Service was great, very attentive, and they didn't have any issues with keeping our drinks full, I liked that. I would like to think I'm becoming a hummus snob, If it's as good as the hummus I make at home, I know it's good. The hummus here was delicious. It's plenty to go with a lavish bread or two. We ordered the mixed grill, the meat was very tender, and the shrimp guvec. The guvec is basically a tomato based stewy casserole. It's served in a hot stone with rice and topped with cheese.. this is definitely comfort food and so good I could have ate seconds. read more

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Had a super delicious meal here tonight with my wife while we were in town. The space is cozy and warm, the service was friendly, and the food was so good! The lavash and hummus was especially nice read more

4.5 stars - we went to Turkey a year ago, and this place is just like what we experienced there. Food is excellent, staff is friendly, and the decor on the walls made us reminisce about our trip. It's just a half block south of the main Church Street pedestrian area, and it's worth noting that the same owners have a spice shop just up the street in that area, so stop there too. Turkish food doesn't have a huge variety of dishes in general, but what they do is fresh and very good, and those spice mixes are all you need to make your dinner even more enjoyable. I'm glad we stopped here for dinner. read more

I'm not sure how a place whose menu brags about importing ingredients from Turkey can serve food that's this bland. The waiter was totally hospitable, bringing a water bowl for my rowdy dog and paying attention to me as much as the other more crowded tables. My zucchini fritter was fried to a gorgeous golden color, but it was totally absent of salt or seasoning, despite containing parsley, dill, and Turkish herbs. The yogurt sauce was acidic, but had nothing to work against in the fritter, so it was really not in balance. My chicken shish wrap needed to be marinated longer - it didn't have much marinade, nor was it juicy - and the thick lavash wrap, folded tightly against itself, needed more flavor to feel worth the calories. The outdoor dining area and storefront are charming, but I'd go looking elsewhere the next time I wanted Turkish food. read more

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Amazing food. Starting from Turkish coffee, falafel with kabash bread tasted great. Lamb and chicken kabobs with coconut rice is to die for, along with the rice pudding dessert. The service was also fast for such small restaurant. The place is small but have 2 floors. read more

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Amazing service. We opted for the outdoor seating because our dog was with us. The server was very kind to first place a bowl of water for our dog. Coming to the food we got the wrap, Adana lunch (chicken and lamb). The proportion was just right, and the food smelled so good!! We got the Turkish yogurt drink which was absolutely refreshing on a hot summer day. read more

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Good, not great. We were disappointed because this place was recommended by ao many locals. The two owners are great. They are patient and accommodating. The food was just ok. The lavash bread is passable but we've had it better in many other places. The haydari was really bland, it's as if they water down flavors for the local population. I had lamb kebab and I needed to cut the meat in tiny pieces so I didn't choke. I asked for some white sauce with the lamb and it was really awful. I had the remaining haydari instead. Chicken kebab was good. Beware, the prices we were charged were higher than what the have online. read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Lamb and chicken kebab - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Amazing service, truly incredible. We think we'd give the kebabs a 10 out of 10, but if we're being honest, we didn't even eat here! Charlotte almost passed out right outside, and the staff were truly incredible. They sat us down in the beautifully lit and comfortable entryway, and offered us water and everything we possibly could've needed. We've walked past this place quite a few times, but now I just NEED to give it a try!!! We usually leave silly reviews, but huge shout out to the staff at this place y'all rock! A MUST TRY KEBAB HOUSE IN THE BURLINGTON AREA!!! I'll keep you all updated, I'm still in the ER with Charlotte. Wish us luck you guys! This review was left by the Charlotte & Jake review read more

It was a rainy day. I planned to visited Franconia State Park and weather did not permit so we had plan two. We decided to visit a few sugar farms and head to Burlington, VT. It was only 1 1/2 from Lincoln, NH. This was the second time we been to Burlington and love the town and we ordered this for dinner. The lamb kebab and the chicken adana were really good. Taste is very similar to what we get back home. The rice on the other hand was not good. It is favored rice but it was so hard we can still chewing rice grains. We ordered the baba ghanosh. It didn't come with the bread so we ordered the lanvash bread. It was weird. Tasted hard and stale. If Turkish resturant messed up on their bread, I knew it was the wrong choice. Nevertheless, two stars for the meat we ordered. Everything else was just disappointing. There are probably more choices of food in Burlington. read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Lamb kebab - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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This place is just wonderful. Excellent food, fantastic service, and beautiful decor including a rooftop terrace. Currently there is construction out front but well worth stopping in. It was packed despite the destruction in front of the restaurant. My daughter lives in Michigan now but every time she visits this is a must stop. read more

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We came in from the cold to a cozy room lit moodily with colored lights and I scanned the menu for as warm a dish as I could find. We started with crispy calami rings and then a steamy güvec (a tomato stew with vegetables and chicken) with rice pilaf. The food was savory and full of complex seasonings. For dessert I enjoyed a chocolate baklava; the proprietor checked to see if I liked their variation on a traditional recipe. Our server Ella provided prompt service with a smile. I look forward to my next visit! read more

Great food. Friendly servers. Nice ambiance. Ate inside but want to try the roof deck tonight. Call before planning to go. They were unexpectedly closed tonight read more

The food, the service, the wine! All was beyond excellent!!! There were 14 of us and everyone loved it! Not a bad comment amongst us! Not only highly recommend but would go so far as to say it's a don't miss it!! read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Chicken Govec was wonderful! - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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I can not believe this is my first visit to Istanbul. I was greeted and served by Annie. She really helped me with the delicious choices. You must try the Lavash Bread complimented with hay dari. It will melt in your mouth. After several minutes reviewing the choices, Annie helped me choose the lamb kabob. The meat, complimented with peppers, melted in your mouth. It was so tender, you really did not need a knife. The meal came with a small portion of rice and other veggies. Later during my meal the owner checked on me. CLASS!!!! I go to venues like this so I won't get overly stuffed. If you are not careful, you can be overwhelmed by their generous servings. I will return! And I will save room for the desserts. For now, I enjoyed the Turkish coffee. Price is very very good. I highly recommend the Church Street stroll and go to the end so you can enjoy Istanbul. They have roof top seating that is open from Thurs-Sun?...They have a roof top. I hope to dine upstairs next time. Worth your time. read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Lavash Bread, w/Haydari - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

We walked into Istanbul Kebab without reservations prior to a movie at the Flynn with our family of 3. We started with the large mezzo platter with the lavash. We ended up getting more lavash to eat the hummus, babaganoush, Turkish salsa, haydari, and the stuffed grape leaves are amazing...a comforting combination of rice and herbs (cool and not cold). Had a Turkish red wine based on the recommendations on the menu. We had the mixed kebab platter which was filling with delectable beef, lamb, and chicken kebabs, rice and lettuce. We were eager to have the maple baklava and Turkish rice pudding; so good as it was not overly sweet. The service is excellent and timely. The atmosphere is cozy to enjoy our meal. read more

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Pretty legit Turkish restaurant deep in Burlington! Came here one afternoon for dinner, and even though we had no reservations, we were able to dine outdoors. Ordered Crispy Phyllo Cheese Rolls (Sigara Böreği) for appetizers and Beyti Kebabs for the entree. The sigara was good! Crispy and hot, with a rich, creamy center. The tangy yogurt sauce it came with was packed with dill, a nice addition. The Beyti Kebab was delicious though. Lamb was tender and smothered in this tasty tomato sauce. The lavash it was wrapped in was soft, and all the sides (onions, rice pilaf and dipping sauce) made the dish that much better! Overall, definitely a place you're going to want to try out if you're looking for something authentic, delicious, and relatively well priced! read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Beyti Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Goes without saying the food was just fantastic very authentic. Service was good. I love the charm of it being a very small place. You will not be disappointed if you go here. read more

Love this place, only downside is we do not live closer. The food is flavorful and fulfilling seasoned expertly by the kitchen. Try sharing plates to sample this menu and don't be afraid to try all the delicacies on the menu. I prefer sitting on the ground floor but the upstairs is spacious to allow more to share this hidden gem in Burlington. Never skip the dessert or coffee. read more

This place is a hidden gem. If you want authentic, Turkish food quickly, this is the place to go! Came here looking for a bite to eat and was quickly seated. The food I got was absolutely delicious, from the appetizer to the main course. The olives and stuffed grape leaves are so good, and fresh from Turkey. The prices are a little high, but well worth it. The time it takes to reach your table is also very quick, with my wait time being under five minutes. The staff were a little short, but overall pleasant and well-accommodating for me and my party. They offered quick service and good food. The ambiance of the restaurant was small but packed with decor and felt as if I were in Istanbul. Very clean overall and quaint. Made you feel right at home sitting at the table. When I'm back in Burlington, I will be coming back to this location for sure! read more

WE had a party of 15 for dinner. The staff requested we order before we arrived and most of our party was able to do that. Food was delicious and between our large party we tasted a variety of appetizers, main dishes and deserts. Wine was delicious and the service was impeccable and so friendly . The decor and ambiance was great, friendly, comfortable and pleasant. The owner was very gracious and accommodating. Don't miss this treat when you are in Burlington. read more

Great bread, puffy and hot. Had beef kebabs which were tender but bland, rice, pickled cabbage. Not bad. Imam Bayildi (sp?) was tasty. Baba ghanouj was tasty but portion was small. Service was good, felt taken care of without being hovered over. Would go back. read more

The food here is just wonderful and prepared expertly. The staff is efficient and friendly. Don't let the construction put you off. Once inside the restaurant you do not notice the construction at all. read more

Delicious food and friendly service in a fun atmosphere. You can tell when a place focuses on craftsmanship and quality. Istanbul Kebab House is one of those places. I had the Alexander Kebab (a house special). It was prepared in an amazing tomato sauce, and served on top of bread cubes. So good! Highly recommend that you give it a try. read more

Service was awful! We got sat and waiting 30 minutes before the waitress finally came over -- she offered no explanation or apology then after finally ordering she forgot to bring a beer and brought some to people who were just sat! After we reminded her about the beer she said "oh I knew I forgot something" and offered no apology. Food was good but not worth that experience. read more

Family of four. We had drinks for the adults, one salad, two extra pieces of bread at an up charge as per menu, the mezze platter for 4, the beshyr kabob (ridiculous, absolute ridiculously priced for what you receive. Mostly bread. And terrible), large mixed meat platter noted on the menu as shareable . We asked that one portion of rice be changed for fries. They changed both. Fries were indescribably and Hideously cooked. No salt. Oily and minuscule portions-- think in total between BOTh portions that we received one medium Wendy's fry or 1/2 of a medium fry for each portion of rice replaced. My portion of fries is in the picture as is my portion of both entrees (plates were appetizer plates for bread-- which were never changed between the appetizer and entree service), one of which was listed as "shareable" and also described as generous portions. Sadly, I didn't get a pic of My plate with my share of the so called mezze for four but it covered 1/2 the plate before bread was added. On that--The lavash is too crunchy. It crumbles like a cracker. The mezze for 4 was very small. The dips were fine as in taste, nothing stellar, but at 26$ each person had one dolma, a minuscule portion of the pickled veg. When I say minuscule I mean literally a few shreds of each veg-- see pic for the amount ( the same amount was also on the entree plates). There were only about a tablespoon per three veg. The dips were similarly scant-- two tablespoons no more for three of four and yogurt which was closer to 1/3-1/2 cup. Flavor nice but no way shape or form a reasonable price. The grape leaves were overpoweringly flavored with cinnamon. Inedible for me so I gave mine away and the rice inside cold so the texture was off. The chicken on the shareable platter was ok. For 49$ you get one skewer with four hunks of chicken , two of the lamb patties which are about the size of a Krystal burger patty (very small, smaller than a McDonald's kids burger), a shish kebab at approx 5-6 inches and a tiny portion of gyro. Think 1/2 the size of your plane jane gyro shop or less. We also had a salad with added extra cheese at an up charge of 4.50 to make the salad 16.50$ it was as described an appetizer. Definitely not a dinner salad despite the dinner salad pricing. Dismal. $160. We are from metro DC. We could go to a similar place twice with much better quality food and pricing (sorry to say). I am not kidding when I say you can go to places there with the highest national ratings and even one bin gourmand and one Michelin starred chef's Mediterranean maze place and pay this price for a meal that is filling. One should be aware of this for portion sizing-- we received our small bread plates. You know the ones-- the tiny bread plates you get to the left of your dinner plate. With 1/3 of one of the lavas rounds my portion of the mezze platter covered one half of the rest of the plate. Not counting the rim. No seconds for anyone of anything. Exactly the same for the portion of the meat and second main. Together on one plate. I had theee pieces of the little kebab dish. There were 10 total. Think the most impoverished wrapper made with one tortilla and one piece of kebab. Split into 10 tiny slices. Absolutely cannot recommend in good consciousness. The second star and bc the cheese on the salad was imported and fabulous and bc they altered a cocktail to my preference. And before anyone says well four people, they didn't order four entrees-- we ordered two dishes specifically described as either generous or shareable or specifically for 4, extra bread, a salad with extra cheese and a separate entree. My husband was like do you think we will have too many leftovers bc we would have if we went to say Lebanese taverna in DC. read more

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The swordfish is to die for! Very flavorful and so delicious. Just went here yesterday and already craving it again. Service is quick and everyone working was very nice. Highly recommend! read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Swordfish and steak Kebab combo and Turkish Red Lentil Soup - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Loved this little gem! The hummus was delicious and wonderfully flavored. I also had the salad with falafel and it was amazing! The falafel was seasoned well, it was light and fluffy. Absolutely delicious. Service was excellent- clearly cares about his craft. read more

My friends and I passed by this place and we were curious. We decided to stop by for lunch and I'm so glad we did. The food was amazingly delicious. Everything in Vermont is extremely fresh and organic, and you can taste it in the food, that's how delicious it is. We ordered the lamb kabob and the beef kabob along with a wrap and a side of falafels. The kabobs and wrap were delicious, the rice that came with it was perfectly cooked and seasoned! However, the falafel was disappointing. It was a bit dry and didn't have much flavor, which was disappointing. read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

My only experience with turkish food is eating turkish delight so when I came here I had really no idea what I was gonna get myself into. The share appetizer plate was fire (they had bread in it) and the kebabs were really damn good. They were served in these little cute platters with rice and colorful veggies and shit and everything was really good. The server was also really nice and attentive!!! Also i dont eat lamb ever but i ate lamb here cuz it was so good read more

Rice was not washed properly before cooking (so tasted starchy) and was not cooked properly (so was nice and crunchy!). Meat seasoning is average and mediocre at best. Meat also does not seem like cooked on an actual grill (to get the smokey taste) but rather seems like was cooked in an oven instead. The calamari was the "star of the show". It was clearly previously frozen and as unseasoned as it can get; gave nice exercise to the jaw without giving any satisfaction. Why offer it on the menu if you don't want to take the effort. This was after the host stopped us outside the main door and somewhat rudely informed us that there was going to be an hour long wait. After we said okay to waiting, he goes inside and magically spawns a very comfortable table that was always available. We come to Burlington, VT once a year and used to have this spot on our list as a ritual. It's been twice so far that we have been grossly disappointed with the food / service. I guess this was our last visit. read more

We had an awesome dinner here. We order the dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), vegetable guvec and vegetable stuffed eggplant. We are used to store-bought grape leaves, which we like. They came out very shortly after we ordered, and they were head and shoulders above the ones we buy (and like). The main courses were really outstanding. The guvec came out sizzling on a hot stone. The eggplant was also delicious. Both were served with rice. We sat outside. They do a nice job making the sidewalk look good with traditional table cloths and even a a small carpet on the resin chairs. The service was also outstanding. We wish were were staying in Burlington another night to go again! read more

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We had gone to Istanbul Kebab House in hopes to eat something filling, but not too heavy, but tasty and made with fresh herbs and produce. Aaaaand they definitely delivered!! What we got: Shepard Salad - yummy Red Lentil soup - yummy Chicken Shish - yummy Chicken Adana - yummy Mixed Grill - yummy All dishes were flavorful and complemented each other. The kids devoured their own soups before I could take a picture of it! read more

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If all the food in Burlington is this good, I'm moving here. Everything was delicious. Did the take-out route. Pick-up was 5 minutes late, but the staff was super friendly and knew right away what was up. In all honesty, they were really busy! Had the chicken, lamb, and swordfish kabobs. Expertly spiced. The swordfish was perfectly prepared, which is a challenge in take-out. The dips were phenomenal. The Baba was super smoky-obviously fire roasted. The kabob entries all came with scoops of pickled cabbage, pickled onions, a small salad, and a scoop of rice pilaf. Be advised. If you order with ToastTab, the receipt shows "Burlington, NY". Don't freak. It's the right place.... read more

5 stars all the way!! Authentic food down to the Turkish coffee which was probably one of our favorite parts. The staff was very accommodating and made room for us in spite of us being late for their lunch hours. Everyone in our party agreed this was the best falafel we'd ever had anywhere - so crispy on outside but insanely light, fluffy on the inside. We also had the beef croquettes and hummus which were my favorite parts of meal. Definitely recommend this place for quality and authentic food. read more

Istanbul Kebab House - Falafel, Turkish Coffee, Lavash Bread - Turkish Near Me - Burlington, Vermont