Istanbul was love not just because of the history and architecture but most importantly for its…read morefood. The sweets and savory both are on point. You can actually go to a hole in the wall and get the best kababs or baklava or halwas every eatery is a sheer joy. So this is one of the best places for a kababfest all over Yelp, YouTube influencers backing that and also the most recommended place on internet based reviews. We chose a non busy time it wasn't that packed. This restaurant is not compact but definitely crowded in the sense that tables are very close to one another. The staff is extremely polite, helpful and friendly. We ordered a little bit of everything including liver. Each item was bursting of flavor and the meat used was top notch quality. Price point isn't bad. Do google the menu with pricing and these change quite often in places like Turkey which is a tourist hub. We paid with credit card no issues. The food came out piping hot and within reasonable grilling time. Definitely recommend this place it's a haven for meat lovers I can't wait to go back this is a solid 5 on 5 for me.

In Istanbul, Turkey on a food tour with Culinary Backstreet. It was a fabulous trip. Our next to…read morefinal night, we were treated to an interactive dining feast at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. This place is preformance art. We were seating at the pit master's table side. The chef is an amazing cog that makes this restaurant thrive with delicious meats. Tonight, we did not order food but were served by the pit master and his favorite creations. We dined on liver skewers with lamb tail fat, grilled garlic, lamb chops, kebobs, grilled onions, spicy breads, grilled peppers, and grilled tomatoes. It was entertaining, warm and completely interactive. The mezzes were also delicious but one has to be cautious not to load up on the salads. I cannot convey just how much fun it was to sit table side tonight. As engaging as the pit master was, his cooking skills are second to none with respect to his grill. If you are headed to Istanbul and looking for a new adventure with scrumptious grilled food, get reservations at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. The environment is engaging, light and just plain fun. I tip my hat to the restaurant, the pit master and to our tour guide for making this evening memorable.

The best food at all you should try dorum and kebap the chef is very clean and welcomedread more

The food is amazing! The owners are thoughtful. The chef exudes charisma. The service is…read moreimpeccable. The ambiance is incredible and your night will surely end with singing and dancing. This is by far my favorite spot for kebab and yeni raki.

Walking around Istanbul and needing an authentic dinner place....i, of course, turned to yelp for…read morehelp! Found this place close by with ravishing reviews, so why not. Get there and easily seated. Small place but people were constantly going in and out and place was buzzing with tourist and locals alike. Menu properly labelled with prices so not a tourist trap. Sat down and ordered the lamb chops and the Adana kebabs (minced meat). Both dishes outstanding. The lamb chops were the best I've ever had. Grilled just right to perfection. Seasoned well with Turkish spices and meat was juicy. The kebabs were the same. Juicy and succulent and perfectly seasoned. Came with complimentary lavash and spicy hummus dip and some pickled veggies. Service quick and portion sizes just right. When in Istanbul, a must try for sure. Cheers! Happy eating!

I was going to try the turkey lamb chop. So I pick a restaurant close to grand plaza. It was close…read moreto the tram station. There are four chops in the set. The chop was pan fried to almost well. I am guessing they don't ask about the temperature. Overall the food is good. The meat here is a bit tougher than the United State. They are likely seasoned. The meal comes with grilled pepper, tomato and turkey blow bread.

My husband found this restaurant because it was one of the closest ones to our hotel and had…read moregluten/dairy free options. We walked in and were told because we didn't have a reservation that there was only one table, but they were very nice and seated us quickly. It was our first meal in Istanbul and we were tired from our travels, so it was a little overwhelming when they came by with a giant platter of appetizers for us to choose from. We didn't pick any, but they did look tasty. My husband got a pide and I got the gluten free and vegan one. The kitchen was open, so it was nice to watch the guy happily making the pide. Mine was really delicious - the crust was crunchy and held up well with the pile of vegetables on it. Great way to start our trip here! My husband ordered dessert and they even made up a gluten and dairy free dessert for me - it was some type of candied pumpkin with syrup and walnuts. So thoughtful! Definitely 10/10 for the service and also 10/10 for the view.

First time to Turkey and Istanbul. On recommendation from the hotel staff. Utterly amazing…read moreinitiation to real Turkish food. Let the waiter make the food selections from menu. Nailed it! Have eaten a lot of other places in the world and think this rates near the top! patio dinning at night fantastic

We came here for dinner in our second night in Turkey, and thoroughly enjoyed it... we loved the…read morekunefe the most, and it was our favourite out of all the ones we had in Istanbul! The ambiance here is beautiful - hidden in a small alley on a road beside the Galata Tower, there are lights and music that fill up the narrow path here. Outside seating is super quaint, and the inside of the restaurant is nice too, decorated in a very traditional way. We started off with a shepherds salad because I was in desperate need of fibre after two days of straight protein and carbs . It was a simple Mediterranean style salad, with tomato, onions, cucumbers, and parsley. We then shared a chicken shish and, heavily influenced by the meal we had at Antiochia the day prior, a kebab durum. The durum was good - crispy and meaty - but I think we had the best at Antiochia. It lacked a bit of juice. The chicken shish was delicious though; it was tender, moist, and flavourful. The real star, however, was the kunefe. This dessert was by far the best of its kind we've had in Istanbul! It wasn't too sweet, the inside was creamy (and more mild than some other variations we tried), but it was the clotted cream on top and the pistachio crumble that elevated this to another level. The cream made the dish super buttery and fragrant, adding complexity. Would definitely come again just for the kunefe!

Good and personable service. Medieval decor created a beautiful and unusual atmosphere. The shish…read morekebab was stellar.

We visited once early in our trip, and had a great meal with excellent service…read more Later we were in the same area. We were open to trying other restaurants in the area. One was closed, and the other was overpriced (and we only found out after we had sat down). So we returned to this known good cafe. Our waiter, who had last seen us a month ago, remembered us. A real caring guy. This time, we ordered the Ali Nazik Kebap. Often kebap dishes in Türkiye are served a bit dry. Buhara's dish, on the other hand, was well-seasoned and presented well on a bed of smoked aubergine. I'd eat here all the time if I were a local.

Our first meal in Istanbul was at Buhara. What a group of friendly people to welcome us. The food…read morewas delicious and we are so happy we found it. Thank you.

January 2/2024: Our final meal in Istanbul with my Al…read more This was a very nice restaurant. The service was fast & polite with no issues. The view from the seating area was FANTASTIC. The food taste was delicious but they lost a star because the small size of the entree. This is a very authentic do over if you're in the area.

We visited Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy and ordered the lamb chops, lamb back, and Peynirli İrmik Tatlısı…read more Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The meat quality was not as good as expected, and both lamb dishes were a bit overcooked. The Peynirli İrmik Tatlısı was also a letdown. It lacked the aroma we were expecting and instead had a strong smell that we found unpleasant. One practical issue is that the restaurant can be difficult to find. There is another nearby restaurant with a very similar name, Chef Ocakbaşı, which made locating the correct restaurant confusing. Overall, the experience did not live up to our expectations.

Amazing place. Incredible food. The freshest. Cozy place with great service and waiter.read more

was coerced into coming here by one of the workers on the street but we ended up getting free tea…read moreout of it so it was fine. was told we'd get a discount on the hummus and did not :( but they were still super friendly. took card no issue, food was nothing special but its a great spot and comfortable, as others have said very touristy

This restaurant is hidden but it is worth being discovered. I would honestly give it a 4 and a half…read morestars for one reason, and one reason only. The water was not from a sealed bottle, so I did not know where it came from. The atmosphere is to die for. Very comfortable seats. The lighting is soothing and is not too blinding. I would definitely recommend sitting outside if the weather is good. The music is not really my taste, but it was not disturbing, so overall it was ok. The inside of the restaurant allows you to barbecue your own meats, like a Korean barbecue style. So it is an experience worth trying. Everything to do with food was great, well prepared and cooked. The appetizers weren't too much so you could still enjoy your main meal. Which was an assorted plate of meats that I got to choose from the inside of the restaurant.

Highly recommend for a traditional Turkish meal that is fresh and clean…read more We started with the mezze platter for two which had an array of different cold dips. Accompanied by fresh baked bread which was mildly crunchy on the outside but light and fluffy inside. Every item was full of wonderful flavors. For the main course we had the Tenderloin which was so soft and tasty.

One of my favorite restaurants of the trip. We split the 8 mezze platter, minced beef kabob, and…read moreminced beef flatbread. The flavors were all outstanding. I wish I had more room to just keep ordering and eating.