Monday nights during pandemic times brought (according to the SF Chronicle) hospitality workers to Kitchen Istanbul en masse. It wasn't just the food they say, but the remarkable wine list, which turned the place into a see-and-be-seen spot akin to NYC's Elaine's (RIP). If this isn't quite how you imagine anyplace along SF's Clement Street, think again. Years later it's still packed (on a Friday night) and loud. Service was the sole miscue on my visit with 3 others. We were given menus and water but ignored after that, to a point where we reached out to get some wine and attention. As you can see from the 5-star assessment, no harm-no foul; once wine and food flowed all was forgiven. The menu required some explanation. It's not broken down in any discernible way, requiring the server to explain that all dishes ae meant to be shared and that the first several dishes are dips, then small plates, then larger. In truth, all seemed like small plates to me (or small servings) but if your wallet permits, you'll not be disappointed. There wasn't one thing we shared that we didn't 100% consume nor anything I'd not recommend. Since we sampled almost the entire menu I feel comfortable saying that everything is delicious and attractively presented. We left the alcohol order to the one at our table who'd chosen Kitchen Istanbul and she summoned the sommelier and gave him free reign. He asked what we like (hearty reds) and what we wished to spend (about $75/bottle) and we enjoyed 2 completely unique offerings that we'd not have known to choose for ourselves. He was also tasked with pairing two of the dessert wines with two of the chosen desserts and they were as enjoyable as the wines served with dinner. It's fair to say that the sommelier had fun with our table, stopping by before we left to say how much he'd appreciated the opportunity to choose for us and for us placing our trust in him. Like the rest of the City I was following Sam Smith's food journey during his time here. He never made it to Kitchen Istanbul but if he had, I think he'd have nodded in agreement with the 5-star rating. read more

Very disappointing experience overall. To start, our table still wasn't ready even 15 minutes after our reservation time. I understand restaurants can get busy, and being out of a few menu items happens, but the way things were handled was frustrating. We ordered our food, received appetizers, and then nearly 20 minutes later our server casually came over to tell us they were out of the chicken entrée we had ordered. There was no apology, no empathy, and honestly no sense that she understood how inconvenient that was. By that point it was already late, and at almost 10 PM in San Francisco there weren't many other dining options open nearby, which completely ruined our night. What made it worse was that we were still charged despite the poor experience and lack of proper service recovery. I ended up not tipping because the service felt disorganized and lacking basic professionalism and empathy. To be fair, the owner did come out afterward to apologize while I was waiting for my Uber, and I appreciated that gesture. But overall, this was a terrible experience that could have been handled much better operationally and from a customer service standpoint. read more

This spot has been on my list for quite some time and I'm grateful that I was able to finally check this off! There's good reason why this place continuously garners glowing reviews. Started off with the hummus, which was a very solid starter that was clearly blended and seasoned appropriately. After the first bite, I was transported back to Israel for a hot moment. I do wish they served more pita bread (which was warm and toasty upon being served-chef's kiss!). Ordered half of the menu and the most memorable items had to be the Chicken For Two (tender fall off the bone chicken with sundried tomato, chard couscous that I could not stop reaching for 3rds and 4ths) along with the Moussaka ( bechamel sauce makes any day infinitely better). OK NOW ONTO THE MOST NUTRITIOUS, IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEAL. DESSERT. Get the Kunefe and Inci Profiterole. If you like the texture of baklava and chocolate in general, you will LOVE these two dishes and can thank me later (or scoff at me). I don't care. I was pecking all the flakes of phyllo dough on the plate like the city pigeons and scraping the plate of all the chocolate ganache goodness because it was THAT good. Great service and ambiance too. read more

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Wonderful dining experience! The atmosphere is elegant and cozy, the service was warm and attentive, and every dish was beautifully presented and delicious. The chocolate profiteroles were an amazing way to end the meal. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Kitchen Istanbul! read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Atmosphere - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Service was very hospitable. They were open with every suggestion and we could not wait to eat their specialties. Oh my pants for desert order the KADAYIF. Get this no matter what. It's baked until golden and crispy, then soaked in a sugar syrup and powdered with pistachio. It's THE BEES KNEES. We also went in on the moussaka, tahini piyaz, and muhammara. Moussaka came out bubbling and layered with tenderness. The tahini piyaz hit different -- beans tossed in tahini, lemon shit, fresh herbs cutting through the creaminess. It felt like a sleeper dish, so simple but amazing . They had a Robin Williams photo in there. RIP to the goat. Ambiance is kind of nice but I went in looking like a bum like I'm some m/billionaire wealthy dude minus the wealth. This is a nice date night spot - I'd go here again but it's kind of pricey so keep in mind of that because you're paying for the elegance too. Food was delicious af tho - I want that kunefe kadayif thing agin holy crap it can give you diabetes in one bit. It's great read more

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Perfection. I think many people rave about the wine list but the food is really something to write home about. It's a warmly-lit place and you'll find small and large parties alike, all having a good time and sharing appetizers. They had the tastiest chicken - SF foodies rave about Zuni but HAVE YOU HAD THIS CHICKEN? + a really rich and flavorful moussaka. I think we overdid it but no regrets. Next time I will order ALL the dips to share. Yum read more

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Definitely get a reservation, it can get really full in here! A lovely minimal yet classy ambiance inside with a big wine wall, we ordered 3 mezzes and 2 medium plates to share and were super full! My favorites were the Borek and Kebabs, but everything was flavorful. The service was also super sweet! read more

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The food here is genuinely excellent, which makes this review disappointing to write. Unfortunately, my partner became ill and spent much of the day at Stanford Medical Center. Out of respect for the restaurant, I called to cancel our reservation rather than simply not showing up. While it was admittedly close to the reservation time, OpenTable does not allow cancellations within 24 hours, and the restaurant itself wasn't open until 5 PM, making it difficult to provide additional notice. Despite explaining the situation, I was charged the full $50 per person cancellation fee. What was most disappointing wasn't the fee itself, but the complete lack of flexibility or empathy given the circumstances. I was even told they would prefer I come dine alone while my partner was sick because it was better for the restaurant than giving up the reservation. "It's a reservation business not a walk in business"...although I walked in myself last weekend. As someone who had dined here the week prior and planned to become a regular customer, this felt shortsighted. Restaurants are certainly entitled to protect themselves from no-shows, but there should be room for reasonable discretion when a guest makes a good-faith effort to communicate an unexpected medical situation. The food is absolutely worth trying. The customer service experience, unfortunately, left a very different impression. If you're making a reservation well in advance, be sure to keep track of it carefully, as the restaurant may still enforce cancellation fees even if you are a returning or prospective long-term customer. read more

Cute restaurant with very friendly wait staff. The food was okay- classic dishes done well, but nothing very memorable. The moussaka is a popular choice and it's quite filling. read more

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The staff was so friendly and accommodating in telling me the vegan options on the menu, or items that could be modified. The pistachio salad was delicious - they did say the normal pistachio crumble has butter, but they did whole pistachios for me instead, and it was still so flavorful and fresh! The pickles were also awesome. read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent place for a intimate dinner with unique taste and great service! Definitely a gem on Clement Street.

What a hidden gem! So unassuming rom the outside! The food was absolutely stupendous, we had: olives, muhamarrah (amazing), dumplings, cheese wrapped in filo, kebap, and moussaka - (excuse any spelling errors), and kunefe. All were absolutely delicious... we loved every bite. The atmosphere is classy and intimate. The service is so wonderfully paced, we sat for two hours, not rushed once and just kept bringing our small bites to share, had some time to digest before dessert. The owner stopped by our table and recommended some wine, he also told us about his history and that of the chefs. This was such a fun experience. read more

Dining at Kitchen Istanbul offers a solid, journey through Turkish classics, featuring well-seasoned food and exceptionally pita bread. The atmosphere captures a nice balance of charm and modern elegance, making it a pleasant spot for a weekend dinner. While the quality of the ingredients is evident, the steep price point feels more aligned with high-end fine dining than the casual "neighborhood gem" vibe the restaurant projects. read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It's rare that I give a mediocre review. I was just shocked at the prices at this restaurant. It started with the $50 OpenTable fee. And the 6% surcharge on the bill. But the wine list was insane, with scarcely a bottle under $100. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. And overpriced, again, especially since you have to order several things per person. The tables are so close together, all I could hear was my neighbor talking about his mortgage. I was hoping for a charming neighborhood restaurant. But at these prices I can go somewhere fancier. I'm unlikely to return, sadly. read more

Maybe we came on an off day but the quality and service of this spot has gone down considerably. Our server was curt and not very friendly, cutting me off and not letting me ask my questions. Food taste and quality did not match the price unfortunately. read more

Food was well composed and environment/service was very pleasant but this is not a restaurant for hungry people. Portion size was very small for the price, as in $30 dish was literally two bites of food and even the main was about four bites. Left hungry and feeling a bit shaken down. Nice beet salad though. read more

Everything here was so good ...the food, the vibes, the service all feel like the perfect neighborhood bistro. We hadn't been here since 2017 - it was great then, but on another level now. Their food quality has upgraded and diversified, the wine program is world class, and the interior was refreshed. It was a lively, friendly, and chill crowd on the Friday night we went. The place didn't really fill up until 730/8 and people were eating, chatting, drinking wine - great bistro vibes! For the food, the standouts for us were croquettes, muhammara, borek (eat it with the frisee - wow!), adana kebabs (sooo good), and the moussaka. This place is already 5 stars! The only thing that could make it even better is if they started offering uncommon in the US Istanbul-specific dishes as special on certain nights (or better yet a single weeknight dedicated to rotating regional Turkish dishes). That would turn me from a repeat customer into a weekly customer! read more

Go for the whole unique dining experience -- first- class wines, superb Turkish /Mediterranean cuisine, great ambiance. Everything we ate was well-prepared and delicious-- the potato croquettes, olives. Satsuka eggplant dish, roasted branzino, short ribs in chimichurri- wow. The wine list is very impressive and eclectic. read more

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My husband and I stopped by this lovely establishment last night. We live pretty nearby so it was a quick drive to Clement for us. Given what great things I'd heard about this place I was surprised it was so quiet on a Thursday night, but I suppose the Richmond district is kind of like that. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. We were seated immediately and the service was fabulous. Our server recommended an awesome italian wine and we ordered a bunch of plates to share - the potato croquettes, the pistachio salad, the kebab, and the braised beef. Everything was great and came out really quickly. My favorites were the pistachio salad and the kebab. I was surprised how spicy the kebab was and i love spicy! Delicious. The braised beef was also perfectly cooked and the croquettes were great as well. My only comment is I was surprised how small the plates were, not because of the price but because of the other yelp reviews who said the portions were large. The kebab in particular was rather small - only 4 pieces of meat. All very good though. We will ofc be back. read more

This place is a gem! My husband and I made a reservation here for dinner with his dad (who is handicapped and uses a mobility scooter), step mom, and our 18 month old son. We made it because when we'd been in the neighborhood recently my husband was walking our son down the block and the owner/manager(?) was so kind to our son when he saw them. The entire staff was accommodating and kind. They helped with our mobility scooter, and were very sweet with our son. This just isn't always the case at all restaurants so we do not take it for granted. The food was also phenomenal! Every single item we ordered was delicious. We'll be back for a date night in the future. You should 100% go here! read more

This restaurant is EXTREMELY underrated. Part of me wants to avoid writing a review so that I can keep it as a secret for just my pals ;) ...but I won't do that to my fellow foodies! My group of three came to dinner on a weekday night. The dining room was far from busy, which surprised me since Clement Street does have a decent amount of foot traffic around dinner time. We started with the olives and hummus (shoutout to the person that wrote that created the menu-- "you know what hummus is" made us LOL!), which were excellent starters. We also enjoyed the pacanga Borek kasseri cheese, octopus, lamb kababs, and short ribs. Everything was flavorful, plated well, and satisfying. Our server was helpful, accommodating, and kind. In all honesty, this is a true hidden gem. I sincerely hope that someday this restaurant earns the accolades that I believe that they deserve. Keep this place on your radar! read more

A great spot for dinner and a date night. reservations open up a month in advance - would suggest getting one. Servers were very friendly and attentive. Ours recommended 5-7 dishes for 2 people, I think 4 would have been enough for us plus dessert, but really fresh good flavors and liked trying all the dishes. read more

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Incredible spot and packed on a Friday night! Glad we got a reservation ahead of time. We got the Muhammara which was amazing - I loved the candied walnuts that come with it. Other notable dishes were the eggplant and the kabob! Their wine was also phenomenal - would highly recommend the wine flight and letting the sommelier choose your pairing. We chose to get more whites than reds and it complemented everything nicely! read more

Delicious food and warm hospitality! Kitchen Istanbul serves up flavorful, well-balanced Mediterranean dishes in a cozy, inviting setting. Everything we tried was fresh and beautifully presented. A great spot for a relaxed, satisfying meal. Will definitely be back! read more

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Food was fabulous! It's remind me small restaurants in Istanbul (kind of Taksim). Looking forward to coming back.

I was really excited to eat here and the food and wine were good but the service though very kind was pretty disappointing. I'm not sure if they were short staffed but we had to flag the servers down multiple times. We also specifically made a reservation for a regular table but was seated at the only table that was a high top with stools- we specifically asked in the reservation to not have that table. The food was good but portions were small. The dips were delicious, so were the manti and mussels, but the crudo had a tiny amount of fish- definitely not worth the price for the dish. read more

4 words.... Spectacular Food - Spectacular Service A Richmond District gem! I'm not a wine person, but the wine selection appears excellent. read more

Tucked on a quiet corner like it's trying not to be the coolest spot in town, this Mediterranean gem had me at hello (and then again at wine). The space is small in that charming, "let's squeeze in one more table" kind of way, which only adds to the intimacy. It's the perfect setting for sharing a bunch of small plates and pretending you're in a chic European seaside town. The food? Ridiculously good. Bold, bright flavors. Everything tasted like it had a story--probably one involving olive groves, sun-drenched markets, and a grandmother who doesn't believe in measuring cups. But the wine... let's talk about the wine. The wine guy was a total delight--genuinely kind, wildly knowledgeable, and so enthusiastic it felt like choosing a bottle was part of the experience, not just a step in the meal. He matched us with something stunning, and it made the whole night feel extra celebratory. All in all, the kind of spot that reminds you why dining out is joyful--and why it pays to chat with the wine nerd! read more

I had the pleasure of dining here with my family for my birthday dinner. We all shared the dishes that we ordered, and everything was absolutely delicious. No complaints from anyone. Each of the dishes were very tasty and had a beautiful presentation. The Moussaka was the number one favorite for all of us. A truly perfect dish. The dessert was a newer dessert that they recently added to their menu, and it was absolutely delightful. In addition to the phenomenal food, I really appreciated the great service and cleanliness of the restaurant. I definitely recommend this place for some stellar, high quality Turkish food. read more

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My wife and I gave this spot a try for a date night and had a blast. We shared the hummus, the charcoal-grilled prawns, the Tahini Plyaz, the Börek, and the mussels. We then put ourselves in the sommelier's hands for our wine pairings (going with the tasting flight). The food was incredible and the wine selections complemented everything perfectly. Each dish was distinct and wonderful, with a beautiful balance of spices, textures, and flavors. I was expecting a fun time and this more than delivered. We will definitely be back. read more

Kitchen Istanbul has changed. Before COVID my favorite dishes were the roasted cauliflower and the charred Brussels sprouts. And the chicken kebobs were wonderful. These are no longer on the menu. So tonight I had Kaseri cheese in a crispy wraps reminiscent of egg rolls that come with frisee. This was a nice enough appetizer as the cheese was assertive and nicely complemented by the frisee. Next four small adana kebobs topped with chiles and I think onions. This was just OK as the chiles and onions were just too much for the kebobs. Service was outstanding. But the meal was pricey and the portions were very small. In other words Kitchen Istanbul no longer provides good value for what is served. Too bad. read more

This was a superb experience in every way. The service was top notch / attentive and polite and friendly. Our appetizers were delicious, the main courses all great. Chicken Kebobs are so tasty. Sausage wraps were fantastic. Moussaka was very satisfying. Short ribs excellent. The wine list is exceptional, and the ambiance is lovely. Highly recommended! read more

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Wow! The food was so amazing, it made me want to hop on a plane to Turkey! The flavors and ingredients were so flavorful, quality and elevated. The service was exceptional-our server was so amazing I had to overtip. It is fine dining, the vibe is sophisticated and the prices and portions match. It's perfect for a small group or special occasion. read more

Amazing dinner. Walked in and was promptly sat. Dining room is gorgeous, huge beautiful windows as seen in the pictures. The food was amazing and the wine even better. I cannot remember the name of the dish with the green sauce but it was a standout app, amazing flavors. The short rib was cooked perfectly. Every staff member that touched our table was super professional and kind. Will go again! read more

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Last night, my boyfriend and I stopped by for our annual anniversary dinner at Kitchen Istanbul. We're still still in love with this place even after moving away from the Inner Richmond area. Some minor updates: * There's been some recipe changes in the Spreads Trio, specifically with their hummus & haydari. They were beautifully made before, but with the update they somehow taste even better? Better as in we ordered an extra 2 servings of pita bread. The hummus is even creamier with a few chickpeas and olive oil to top it off. The haydari has more notes of cheese and fresh herbs. * The wine list has expanded even more since our last visit! We wanted to try a new bottle of chardonnay, and were presented with 3 options. Ultimately, we picked the 2018 Jérémy Arnaud Chablis 1er Cru 'Vau de Vey' Chardonnay, Burgundy/France. Beautiful, elegant, well-balanced with layers of texture, and the nicest finish. The best find yet! * Met new staff members since our last visit and both were so incredibly kind, knowledgable and helpful with recs. read more

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2024 update: We've been coming here since at least 2017! Maybe a little before. My husband and I like to come here for anniversaries/birthdays every year!! We came here for my birthday and i was a little sad/disappointed to see they no longer have the cheese cigars or the zucchini fritters( they were my favorite and what I looked forward to every year!! Can't find those anywhere else!) but the food was delicious as usual! Nothing ever disappoints here and actually the hummus platter was even better than before!(which I didn't think was possible!). I think I just have to get over my nostalgia haha! Food is great, service is top tier, and it had a romantic ambiance as always! Highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Lamb chops and braised short rib - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent Mediterranean food & bottle shop. Favorite item on the menu is the Moussaka! It's cheesy, savory, and delicious. All the pita and dips are wonderful, too. A lot of great options for bottles of wine under $80. Service is tentative and friendly. Come here with a small group of friends so you can try more food items, and drink more wine : ) read more

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Heard such great things but wish they had more vegetarian options. Wine was great though

Lovely little restaurant and bottle shop. Very attentive and friendly service. Got some spot on wine recommendations based on pairing with our food orders as well as personal preferences in wine. Staccato notes taken during dinner about the food. Octopus salad. Perfectly cooked octopus, tender. Balance of flavors, but still a clean taste. Lemon. Pacanga borek. Fun. Cheesy. Hearty taste without being heavy. Short ribs. Pull apart with fork. Savory. Comfort en haute. Branzino. Light, so not all that filling if you are really hungry. Feels healthy and refreshing. Decadent pop of flavor in the salsa, but not spicy pop. Bread pudding. Light and fluffy cake, not the dense compacted version. Springy flavors, sweet but not overly. A delicate bread pudding?! Juicy! read more

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We just spent an exceptional evening with friends as first time guests at Kitchen Istanbul. Wow, just wow. Our food was so delicious. My husband and our friend loved the 3 course wine tasting add on. My fresh fish was the best I have had anywhere in San Francisco. Our friends loved their moussaka and lamb kebabs. We started by sharing some excellent, flavorful mezze, and ended by sharing an amazing rice pudding to top off our evening. Emrah, the owner was so gracious, warm, and knowledgeable about wine, as was the entire staff. It was a perfect evening and we definitely plan on coming back. Highly recommend! read more