An unexpected stop for lunch during a cruise stop in Old San Juan, PR, the Istanbul Restaurant was a combination of Turkish dishes along with dishes native to Puerto Rico. My brother and I tried dishes from both menus, and found it to be quite good. As we were walking past, a small sign for 'Grandma's Kitchen' caught our eye. My brother had been encouraging me to try Puerto Rico's national dish: Mofongo - mashed fried plantains. Unfortunately, restaurants were just packed with long waits and I wasn't in the mood to wait outside in the sun for a long time. The door next to the sign stated that it was a restaurant called 'Istanbul'. We peaked inside, and was welcomed warmly by a host, who let us know that the restaurant was both Grandma's Kitchen/Istanbul. There was nobody else dining inside, which was weird considering how every other restaurant in the area was packed. The dishes are made to order, so took a bit of time for it to come out one at a time. Mixed Seafood Stuffed Mofongo ($25) - served in a wooden pilon, the tall and narrow neck was stuffed with the mashed plantains, topped with a seafood blend of clams, dense fish pieces, octopus, and squid. The sauce was really well done, not too rich, but buttery enough to accentuate the seafood. I have to believe the seafood was prepared from frozen, but it tasted really good: a definite notch up from the seafood I've been having on the cruise boats. It was the first time having mofongo, and I liked it. This version had fried plantain chips, mixed with the mash of more plantains. I don't think this version had pork skin rinds, and I didn't miss it. It's extremely dense, so ended up eating maybe a third of it while finishing the seafood. It's a solid alternative to rice, though definitely can't eat too much of it. Doner Kebab ($18) - from the Istanbul portion of the menu, this dish was tasty, though the meat was cooked on a flat top grill like a burger patty, instead of on a vertical rotisserie. The lamb/beef patty was loosely formed and well seasoned, with the accompanying tzatziki sauce being a good add-on. Both dishes were cooked very well, the back kitchen has some skills. Service was friendly throughout. Water is not offered, but guessing they will give to you if asked. Payment was provided after the meal, and they do stick on a mandatory 15% gratuity for all party sizes. read more

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We were in town for a short stay as we needed to get something to eat and then return to our ship before it left port. Istanbul Restaurant to the rescue. The food was great and tasted very fresh. We ate fresh salads with the main dishes being comprised of lamb and chicken. The dining area was very cozy as we sat underneath one of the ceiling fans. The staff was very helpful and the service was quick. read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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I love to use Yelp to find local spots when traveling; however I can't get on board with the high reviews of this spot in old San Juan. The falafels were doughy and undercooked and the chicken kabobs very tough. Service was good, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. It's a little dark but clean. read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Came here during our visit to old San Juan. It had space unlike most of the establishments in that strip. Confirmed with staff that the meat was halal. Our server (i think his name was Senan?) was very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the food was frankly below par - we got the appetizer sampler (hummus in particular was watery), chicken shish (very bland) and doner kabab (which was okay). read more

Amazing restaurant while i was visiting. Can't wait to be back. Highly recommend. :D....

Como de costumbre la comida de alta calidad y frescura. El trato super bueno y en general el ambiente mas que relax y familiar read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Ambiente decorado - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nice change from the local cuisine. Food was tasty, Greek salad had beautiful ripe tomatoes and the yogurt eggplant was an interesting yummy find. Service was not outgoing or quick - maybe typical "island time" attitude. read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Gyro, eggplant/yogurt dish - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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We ate here one evening, we got the chicken curry and one of the lamb dishes. The chicken did not taste like curry and the lamb tasted old like it was microwaved. Was super disappointed that the menu posted in here is not the actual menu. The server gave himself 15 percent tip, we were only a party of 2. Should've known it wasn't good when we saw that the place was empty and that the menu was not the same as online.., read more

Everything was amazing! Great food, great service and wonderful vibe. Coming back for sure!

We entered at 8:28 pm which is 30 mins before they close and the staff sat as down after 5 mins which was okay. However the staff was extremely rude, she took 20 mins to get our water after we repeatedly told her 4 times. She was smashing bottles in the back maybe because she was having a bad day or done with her life. She also dropped the salad of the people sitting on another table. They were also disappointed with her. But that's not the worst part they took 45 mins to get our food. The food is okay not great not bad though. The server should have gone home if she was having a bad day or not sat us down read more

Very Tasty. Friendly Staff. Good Service. Relax environment. Lots of vegan options. Good Prices.

Came here for dinner with colleagues during our time in San Juan for a conference a few months back, and was glad to find that Istanbul was open a little later into the evening for a later dinner for all of us. Our party was about 10 people the restaurant staff were so friendly and combined tables for us to be seated together (we were fortunate because the restaurant wasn't too busy when we came along, but it definitely became packed once were seated and eating already). I ordered the musakka - it was so delicious and well portioned! The flavor was strong and the eggplant was a good texture mixed in with meat and cheese. I had the dish with rice and salad as my sides and it was so well-balanced. I'd definitely recommend Istanbul to those who are exploring Old San Juan and looking for something outside of the Puerto Rican palette (although I highly encourage eating at as many local Puerto Rican places as possible!) read more

We ate here based on Yelp reviews, and I'm glad we did. The place is small, 8 tables inside. Had we not been looking for it, we would have walked right by. If we'd been just looking for a place to eat in the area, we'd have skipped it. That would have been a mistake. The food is very good! We had the appetizer sampler. Stuffed grape leaves, falafel and tzatziki. All were good. My wife had the grilled meatballs and I had the lamb kebobs. Both were great and came with a heaping portion of rice and a small but delicious salad. Do yourself a favor. Don't overlook this place. read more

The food was good but service was awful. Our food took over a forty min to come out (we ordered a platter with hummus, fried eggplant, and falafel) and a veggie casserole. The veggie casserole was carrots, eggplant, feta and potatoes stewed with a side of rice. This was okay but I think my expectations of a casserole were different. When we didn't finish it, the server seemed upset by this although we didn't say we don't like it. When we left, he slammed the door in our face. A weird day. It's a casual place- not everything is written on the menu. read more

Stopped here after a long walking tour for a fresh alternative to the Puerto Rican food we had most of the weekend. No one was in the restaurant and we were seated immediately. This turned out to be one of those hidden gems and was perfectly what we were looking for! The lighting was a little dark but very cozy and intimate. There was middle Eastern pop music playing. We ordered the Imam eggplant appetizer and it came out in less than 5 minutes. It was very delicious with the right amount of garlic. The server told us that was what they were really known for so I do recommend it. Our entrees arrived very soon after (total wait time from order about 12-15 minutes). I had the Dönner Kebab and my wife had a Greek salad with the roasted lamb meat that comes on the kebabs and gyros. Both dishes were outstanding! The rice was seasoned just right and complimented the meat and veggies perfectly. My wife's salad had no lettuce but lots of tomatoes, onions, feta, olives and cucumbers along with the meat. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are so glad we stopped! read more

Excellent food, no wait and good ambiance. The lamb chops were excellent and a must. They were cooked exactly as ordered and seasoned very well. The appetizer sampler had domas, eggplant, hummus and pita bread. Definitely enough for 5 adults and loved the eggplant. read more

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The owner was unreasonably rude, criticizing us for not greeting him. The place felt neglected--dirty, empty, and filled with bad energy. Do yourself a favor and skip this spot; it's not worth your time. "El dueño fue increíblemente grosero, criticándonos por no saludarlo. El lugar parecía descuidado: sucio, vacío y con una energía negativa. Hazte un favor y evita este sitio; no vale la pena." read more

The food is decent here. The best thing is there are many vegetarian options here. The vegetarian casserole and quinoa salad are pretty nice. read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

We had the best experience at this restaurant tonight. The server, Adam, was wonderful and very accommodating for our group. I had the doren kebab and the lamb was excellent. The tzatziki appetizer was also wonderful. Several other entrees and appetizers were ordered and shared and everyone was pleased with their food. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Went for dinner, nobody else was there despite the busy street, but the waiter (Adam) was the nicest guy and the service was impeccable. Quick, kind and friendly, and the food was absolutely to die for. The hummus was heavenly, the gyro meat deliciously tender, and the pita and rice absolutely perfectly done. If I ever have a chance again, I'd go back in a heartbeat. GIVE THIS RESTAURANT THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES read more

This has been sitting in my drafts since 2015 haha BEST CHICKEN THAT I EVER EVER EVER ATE!!!! It was the kabob platter but get the chicken instead! Me and my wife LOVED it and coming from a middle eastern family we were ready to not be impressed but the food there was AMAZING. We started with the hummus and grape leaves and the PITA BREAD WAS OH SO DELICIOUS AND WARM!! Amazing service. We are going back again! read more

Very pleasant surprise! We were tired from a day of travel and didn't want to wait in line for other restaurants...Stumbled upon this gem... delicious, fresh gyro wraps (and hummus appetizer) were just what we needed. Very attentive service. They also serve alcohol. So glad we picked this! read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Gyro wrap - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

A nice place to eat. Only one guy working so service was a little slow. We ordered a good bit of food and most of it was well received. We ordered one menu item and the server said they were out - the next table ordered the same and they made it for them. Not ensure what happened there. In any case - overall a positive experience. Nice change of pace in PR. read more

3.5 stars. I ordered the Ottoman casserole with lamb and it's really not bad at all. I wasn't sure what to expect but it's tasty. Unfortunately, they were out of their soup that day but I'd come back if I wanted middle eastern food again. They do have a pretty limited menu though. read more

I moved to Puerto Rico and I went to Istanbul Restaurant for the first time and I was very impressed with the restaurant , the service and the food. The entire restaurant was clean and it smelled great even the restroom. Now words can't express the taste of the food it is authentic Turkish cuisin. I highly recommend eating there if you would like to eat Turkish food. read more

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This place is delicious! We stumbled upon it walking by so decided to give it a try, and are so glad we did. The appetizers were some of the best I had - moist falafel, flavorful dolma, and refreshing tzatziki. The pita was served warm, and had a nice crisp to it. We ordered the muzakka, which doesn't sound as amazing as the lamb and chicken based on what some people wrote, but that just means we'll have to go back ;) The service was great, too. Well worth a visit! read more

This was the first time I had tired Turkish food & it did not disappoint! A group of 4 of use decided to take a trip to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and this restaurant was recommended to us. The place overall is quite small not a lot of room to sit tons of people but perfect for a party of 2-4. We were greater very well and sat down right away (7:30PM). The food was so so yummy! I want to be honest and tell you guys exactly what I had .... but we ordered so much food that I don't remember it all But I can tell you that everything is served exactly how you would expect it from the description on the menu. The service was super fast! Once our orders were in our appetizers were out within 10 minutes and our food 15 minutes after. I would strongly recommend this spot to anyone visiting the San Juan, Puerto Rico area. You will absolutely love it! Enjoy! read more

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This is one of the most reasonably priced restaurants in San Juan. Hummus and falafel were ok. But the Imam Bayildi (eggplant dish) was very tasty! read more

Friendly service. We loved our server. Great food. Reasonable prices. This is a good place to visit in San Juan if you want a break from Latin cuisine. read more

Horrible. The hostess refused to entertain group of 4 at 8 pm. No explanation given. Anyway the place seemed like trashed by a larger group.

Worst experience ever! Don't eat there! We ordered two meals. The first one came after an hour of waiting and the second one was to go. When we got home and open the box we found a big cockroach. Disgusting!!!! read more

Istanbul Restaurant - You can see the cockroach in the picture - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

We came for lamb and we found it. Amazing lunch and service. I had the Ottoman Casserole and my husband had the lamb chops. Everything comes to perfection. For dessert we had a baklava. It came hot and oh my God. It was delicious. Not extremely sweet. Like we like it. We'll be returning read more

Just happened to run across this small place- amazing food and wine- friendly and attentive staff- read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Musakka - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

I took my 6 year old son to the bathroom and there was no soap. Spoke with the server Loraine who then said the soap must have been stolen from the bathroom but there's soap in the woman's bathroom. I then replied to her if it was stolen can you replace it since you can't expect the men to go in to the woman's bathroom to use the soap and how does your employee wash hands and the other restaurant guests. She replied by saying we only have a big refill and refused to replace the soap in the men's bathroom so I then took my son to the woman's bathroom to use the soap. We had a group of 15 people so I didn't want to inconvenience the rest of the group and walk out as orders were placed. Required a seat chair for a 3 year old and Loraine who was the server response was who's the baby here and never assisted on a kids high chair. I had ordered a chicken kabob and had a reaction that night with swelling tongue , shortness of breath hard breathing and body aches with a fever next morning. I'm not Allergic to anything in my life and this is the first time this has happened to me. Good thing my friend's had kids and had the kids Benadryl I took with ibuprofen to bring down my swelling tongue and breathing. Gross and disgusting restaurant! Lazy people! read more

DO NOT SLEEP ON THE LAMB CHOPS! We ordered a second round Bc it was so good! The space is clean and cute, nothing special. I recommend sitting outside. The service was fast and the hostess was really sweet. read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Mixed appetizer was delicious and came out so fast! - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

I adored everything about our stop here. The ambiance is so inviting. The service was phenomenal and the food scrumptious! Our party ordered hummus with pita, gyros, falafel just to name a few! The ingredients were top notch and so fresh! The staff was gracious and kind and I will return soon and try more of the menu! Highly recommend!!! read more

Nice casual place to eat. Dim lit and relaxing. Good food and attentive service. Went with the Mixed Grill which had a good variety of tastes, and decent enough portions for two that we didn't even finish all of it. The waitress said the Ottomans Casserole is one of the most popular dishes, and we also tried the eggplant appetizer and it was delicious. On the drinks/refreshments- my date's Sangria (my first time ever tasting Sangria?!) was actually really good. Modest selection of whiskey (nothing fancy, Dewars was only decent selection they had). read more

Istanbul Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Small nice restaurant short walk from the port. I ordered Doner Kebab. It was tasty but did not appear like other numerous times I've ordered this same dish elsewhere. This was thin slices of gyro meat on a mound of rice. I ordered it with rice and salad. Hummus was good but lacking a bit of flavor. The hot sauce they provide isn't the kind you normally get in Turkish restaurants. It had the Latin flavor style to it. But I would come back and eat again. It was just different than other Turkish spots. The presentation of the tiny coffee is cute too. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. read more

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Istanbul was recommended to us by one of the employees at the Marriott hotel located within walking distance of the restaurant. While very small, it has a wonderful ambiance and great customer service. We were promptly seated, and our server was able to make recommendations based on our vegetarian lifestyle. While we waited we enjoyed a nice glass of wine. I ordered the Hummus wrap, which was delicious and my husband ordered the Falafel which he enjoyed immensely. We decided that we would come back again. The only negative about the restaurant is that the menu is a la carte; but, for the prices, they should offer a side. read more

Amazing Turkish restaurant! Interesting in reading other reviews how someone can like the food but only give it 3 stars. We have gone to this restaurant about 4 times so far and every time the food is on point. I must admit that perhaps their hummus is not the best I have ever had (it's not bad-- just not the best) but ALL of the other food makes up for that. I've had the eggplant appetizer multiple times. Let me warn you, this dish is addictive. So good that our table quickly polished one order away and therefore had to order another. So good that after a few days my husband was craving it and ordered it for take out just because. Their kabobs are the bomb. We had the mixed platter and all of the meat were flavorful and moist. The kofta was so tasty and was perfect dipped in the hot sauce. The chicken was amazingly tasty, moist and tender (mind you, I usually do NOT like chicken kabobs because they are almost always dry and flavorless). The chicken was awesome dipped in the tzatziki sauce. I highly recommend the meat if you are a carnivore. Another amazing dish is their Mousaka. The eggplant, beef and sauce are wonderful together. Honestly on of the best Mousaka's I have had. Try this restaurant, you won't be disappointed! read more