We met up with friends for dinner. The lamb beyti was delicious and I would absolutely order it again. However, a chicken entree was brought out raw...twice. Not sure how such an upscale establishment can make such a rookie mistake. We told the server the first time, they graciously switched it out. The second one looked a bit more charred but the inside was still not fully cooked. Not just juicy/not dry, but straight up not fully cooked. Also, I've had kunafe several times before, and the version here was not impressive either. If you do end up here, stick with the lamb beyti or better off, go elsewhere. read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The restaurant is not only outstanding food, but has the warmth of eating with family. From the beginning to the end we had smiles on our faces. We can't wait to come back. Thank you so much! read more

Kitchen Istanbul has been on my list for quite some time. I'll be honest, the 4.5 stars got me pretty excited, so naturally, I bookmarked it. Unfortunately, I can't say I agree. We started with the roasted cauliflower. It was well roasted and flavorful so of course it set expectations for the rest of the meal. Deciding we wanted a variety, we skipped entrees all together and went with a few more appetizers. Following the cauliflower, we shared the arugula salad, sardines, and meatballs. Honestly, the food is nothing to write home about. Where are the lovely Turkish spices and herbs? Pretty disappointed there was no dill, paprika, mint, cumin, or nigella seeds (to name a few). The cauliflower had sumac dusted on the plate but it was minimal. The occasional slice of lemon added brightness, which was nice but not very authentic without complimentary spices. Sadly, I felt everything lacked flavor and was bland. Salt and pepper would have made it more palatable. Portions are on the small side, too. The ambiance however, is lovely with a great, relaxed vibe. Service is on point. read more

The food was impressively delicious!!! As too was the service, which was very attentive and polite. They asked if we had questions about the menu or if we needed help picking a wine. We enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the setting as the restaurant was smaller than I had originally imagined but that's not a bad thing at all. Will happy be coming back for the appetizer trio with pita for sure!!! read more

During our visit to SF, we were invited for dinner to this restaurant and felt immediately compelled. Being of middle eastern heritage myself, then vibe and decor was modern and elegant with a few local and Turkish trinkets. The service was immediately hospitable and attentive, our servers were very quick and well informed. The food was incredibly flavor full and delicious, we shared each other's dishes to sample everything from appetizers to dessert. It was just the right twist of modern fusion and traditional Turkish cuisine. The Mediterranean focus on the ingredients is a winner for anyone trying something new and interesting for the first time. Definitely will be revisiting this place again during my next trip! read more

The food was fantastic!! The staff was very friendly and helpful!! Great costumer service!!

Great food, great service, and also love the energy- this restaurant NYC vibe (Chelsea or West Village vibe for those of you familiar with NYC). We had the lentil soup, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and moussaka - everything was fabulous !! read more

Happy to find this inner Richmond spot! Loved the Beyti - lavash wrapped lamb and beef with tomato and yogurt sauces. Matched it with a great white Santorini wine. Busy, happy, yummy. read more

Superb swaps. From Troya to Kitchen Istanbul: richmondsfblog.com/2014/12/08/biz-updates-troya-becomes-kitchen-istanbul-jade-chocolates-now-open/ From yogurt to hummus: No doubt the former would have been great in the cauliflower, grilled peppers and arugula wrap. But the latter was awesome. Made for a very enjoyable crisp and flavorful vegetarian creation. We complemented that with a chicken kebab served atop a chickpea salad all covered with paprika sauce. Poultry was seared to perfection. Chickpeas were soft and delicious. Staff was very friendly, welcoming and clearly accommodating. Light woods and dark reds made for a modern and inviting space. $27 for the pair was fair. Superb number of stars. read more

This place reminds me of Europe with the relaxed vibe.... not in a bad way at all - the servers are extremely friendly but won't really bother you too much (they are super easy to flag down if you need). The prices were OK, and the food was decent for what it was - nothing mindblowing but a good, relaxed option on Clement to have a decent meal and catch up with a friend if there happen to be crowds everywhere else. My main gripe is that there were flies circling above our heads the whole time (we sat near the front window area). Overall the place seemed clean though, so not sure why there were flies :( AAAND there might not be flies in the interior of the restaurant. We literally sat right near the window, next to the entrance. Our 2 standout items were: ROASTED CAULIFLOWER BLACK LENTIL BULGUR SALAD WITH GOLDEN RAISINS read more

We had our latest dinner club here and had a great experience. Our waitress was either spread too thin covering too many tables or wasn't paying attention to details otherwise our experience would have even been better. Besides that the food was delicious. We got here for happy hour and pretty much ordered every single starter - falafel, brussel sprouts, Halloumi (amazing, must have), meatballs and cauliflower. I had the Beyti as my main course it was good but almost too much food. That could have been because I had so many appetizers though too. For dessert we got the Kunefe (so good) and the fresh berries. Come here and make a full meal on the appetizers for happy hour. read more

Since I lived In Istanbul for 5 years I don't See this place as an authentic Turkish food- :the meatballs were were unseasoned and undercooked, also the portions are super small and overpriced ! All the Turkish food suppose to be served with a warm fluffy Turkish bread or pita and we were charged for it 3 dollars! Our server didn't want to explane us about the sous on the chicken kebabs so we had to ask the really kind lady who help us- she as very kind and patient- Turkis lady who guided a throw the menu ! Overall OK FOOD GREAT presentation and super OVERPRICED limited options menu read more

Had dinner there this evening with my husband and our adult son. We didn't have reservations, but were lucky to show up just as there was a cancellation. It was apx. 6:15pm when we arrived. The staff is gracious and welcoming. The service was very good, but not obtrusive. The atmosphere is very warm, however it's a little bit loud. My husband is a tiny bit hard of hearing and he couldn't understand what we were saying a couple of times. The food was absolutely delicious! To start we shared the roasted cauliflower and the fried zucchini. The cauliflower was very good and didn't have a sauce on it, which was nice. There was a yogurt sauce on the side. The yogurt sauce is REALLY good. The zucchini also had the same sauce, or something very similar. I highly recommend it. For entrees, my husband and I shared the Turkish style beef stew with eggplant puree and our son had the salmon kabobs. The beef was definitely enough for two people, especially if you're having an appetizers to start. It was very good. The eggplant was almost like mashed potatoes under the beef. The salmon kabobs were perfectly done, sizzling and juicy. There were served on top of a warm chick pea salad, which was also quite delicious. For dessert, we ordered the Kunefe. I am so happy we got this to share. It's quite a large portion. Fried strips of dough, honey and pistachios - you will want to eat every last drop! We also ordered two coffees and my husband ordered the mint tea. So, this is the only thing wrong with the dinner. We expected a traditional mint tea, or at least a modern take on the traditional tea. However, my husband was served hot water and a mint tea in a bag. The kind that you rip open because it's in a plastic coated paper sleeve. Because the meal was so delicious, we were expecting something more authentic. However, the Kunefe made up for it, in the end. read more

Great dinner. Shared Four appetizers (spread, falafel, meatballs, Brussel sprouts. All perfectly prepared. Had fresh carrots along with pita bread for spreads. All wAshed down with Catalan sparkling water and a minerally Croatian white wine. We shared lamb chop entree. A sumptuous culinary repaste read more

My fav Turkish place in sf is tuba for Turkish. I decided to give a try to this new place. We ordered veg mousakka, fritters and one more entree. Taste: 4/10. Moussaka was like badly made pie with burnt cheese on d top. They also did not pair with anything like rice, pita or salad. Appetizer was good. Ambience: 8/10 ambience is trendy. Service: 5/10. Nothing bad but very impassion-ate. Price: kind of pricey. $50 per person with a glass of wine with just about enough quantity is kind of expensive Value for money: 4/10 read more

A cozy restaurant on a busy corner of Clement St. We walked in without resy on a Saturday night and happily got seated. Dishes were fresh and well-balanced. We ordered mainly vegetarian as my wife is vegetarian. But I craved lamb. Love the salads and kebabs. Service is a bit slow but friendly. Very well-chosen wine list of domestic and European wines, a standout on Clement. Love they serve Andytown coffee, too. Will be back. read more

Had a really nice dinner last night, got there at 6:20, and they let us be part of happy hour. We had eaten at Troya over the years, but we like the new changes of Kitchen Istanbul better. The atmosphere and service, so good and friendly. We started with small plates, the sardines, roasted cauliflower, and the cheese, so delicious. We decided to share an entree, chicken kebab served over a salsa of chickpeas, wow, so good. The wines by the glass, both red and white were excellent. Great spot, can't wait to go back. read more

See all

Ran into this place walking around sunset on a Friday night. I was originally planning to go to Burma Superstar, but didn't feel like waiting. My friend and I were sat immediately and we just wanted a few appetizers. We ordered the Lentil Salad and Fallafel and shared. It was perfect! The fallafel had great texture and flavor and the lentil salad also was healthy yet filling. We were just a little hungry and this was perfect before a concert we were going to at Neck of the Woods across the way. Love this place I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food and this place was really good. The ambience is really nice and has an upscale feel. read more

Kitchen Istanbul was Cafe Troya Now it's Istanbul, not Cafe Troya Been a long time gone, ol' Cafe Troya To eat Turkish delights on a moonlit night Every gal at Cafe Troya Eats at Istanbul, not Cafe Troya So if your Tinder date is at Cafe Troya She'll be eating at Istanbul Even King's Thai was once called King of Thai Why they changed it I can't say People just liked it better that way So take me back to Cafe Troya No, you can't go back to Cafe Troya Been a long time gone, ol' Cafe Troya Why did Cafe Troya get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks (Interlude) Even Riverside was once called Roadside Why they changed it I can't say People just liked it better that way Kitchen Istanbul was Cafe Troya Now it's Istanbul, not Cafe Troya Been a long time gone, ol' Cafe Troya Why did Cafe Troya get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks (Interlude) So take me back to Cafe Troya No, you can't go back to Cafe Troya Been a long time gone, ol' Cafe Troya Why did Cafe Troya get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks Kitchen Istanbuuuuullllllllllll! read more

Waooowww!! I just didn't expect that the place would be so good. Ordered goat cheese rolls, roasted Brussel spouts, lamb shank amongst many other things. Service is good. Collection of wine was good too. Ask the waiter for recommendations, they know it all. Just trust them. DONT MISS OUT ON THE DESSERT PLATTER Can't wait to go back again read more

Came with a large group of about 12 people for lunch. If you have a group this large, call and try to make a reservation (it won't let you online). Or get there 5-10 minutes before it opens and put your name in first. They can accommodate you, but the place isn't that large so it can be tricky. Food: The appetizers are what will bring me back. -Crispy Brussels sprouts: truly crispy and delicious with a dipping sauce on the side -Hummus, haydari, and muhammara with pita: the haydari is like a thick tzatziki. Eat it with the pita and the chicken-yum! The muhammara is a red pepper dip and is so amazing (not spicy at all). If you have a large group like ours, 2 orders of each were good, but we needed extra pita bread. -Falafel: small, but yummy. -Grilled halloumi cheese: a really nice mild, soft cheese. Comes with some greens, olives, and cherries. -Chicken, salmon, and lamb skewers: these were okay. Nothing special, but tasted good and came with rice or chick peas. Atmosphere: simple, but cute Service: quick and kept our waters full. They also waived the dessert fee for the cake we brought in. read more

I love Mediterranean food and I wanted to try some different dishes other than the usual kebob, pita bread, and hummus that I'm used to. Friend and I came here on Tuesday for their happy hour (5-6:30pm; mon-thurs) HH menu: $8 appetizers, $8 selected wine, and $6 tap beer We ordered the zucchini fritters, roasted cauliflower, and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts and fried zucchini were good, but I wouldn't say there were the highlight of the meal. My favorite out of the three was the roasted cauliflower. We shared an entree dish, which was the veggie moussaka ($19). Now, THIS was the highlight dish for me! It's described as a casserole topped with a béchamel white sauce, which I thought was originally cheese, but I was wrong. Sooooo good!! All in all, it was a nice dinner and dining experience. Our server was extremely nice/attentive too. read more

Great place with a nice happy hour (mon-Thur). We tried some of their wine and beer selections from Germany, and Greece and we were happy with their offerings. Food ordered from happy hour was all tasty and based on what we ordered I would recommend in ranking order: lentil and bulgur wheat salad (highly recommended), zucchini fritters, Brussel sprouts and falafel. Very friendly and efficient service. Would definitely return to try more from their menu! Just too much to try at once. They also give some complimentary flatbread crackers that were delicious! Too full to make it dessert but they had seemingly good options with kunefe, baklava, berries and cream and chocolate pot de creme. read more

See all

It is not a good restaurant for authentic Turkish food. Even though food names are in Turkish, the taste is not. Also I think it is an expensive restaurant. If you are from Turkey and want to try Turkish food, I don't recommend. Otherwise it is OK. read more

I've visited Troya (on Clement) twice now, once for lunch and another time for dinner. The restaurant usually seems quite busy, we tried to eat here on a Thurs night without a reservation and were turned away. The space is nice, the location is great, but in my opinion the food is just OK. The second time I came with a group, we tried several different dishes, none of the dishes were bad, but none of them were that memorable either, which seemed to be the group consensus. Nice restaurant, good service, OK food. read more

Very delightful restaurant on the corner of 5th and Clement. I came in for a late lunch so it was rather quiet inside. Combined with an abundance of natural light coming through the big windows, this was a great spot for a relaxing lunch. Having eaten a bit before coming here, we stayed on the safe side and ordered a chicken kebab lunch special and zucchini fritters. Both dishes were prepared well and seasoned perfectly. It's just one of those days when words escape me but the meal was scrumptious. The menu fits in two pages; one for food and one for alcohol, with the latter lengthier. I can't wait to come back and have some wine here. Prices are a tad bit high for this to become a regular lunch spot though. read more

Came here for a quick lunch. Extremely attentive service and delicious food - had the falafel wrap. Would definitely return! read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Extremely tasty falafel wrap. - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

Brussel sprouts may just be the best thing I've ever eaten. The Kunefe was great too but would be better with a scoop of ice cream. We also ordered the feta sticks which were tasty with honey and then we split the Lamb Beyti which didn't come close to how much we enjoyed the brussel sprouts! Did I say the Brussel Sprouts were amazing?! Well they are so you MUST get them! read more

Really yummy food every time I go here. Pretty loud, but it's worth it. read more

Absolutely wonderful! Authentic and beautiful. Owners are lovely. Food is tasteful and decadent.

The service was okay. All of their chicken are marinated with red bell peppers, not my cup of tea. The lamb meatballs were dry and gristly. Wine by glass is expensive for the little bit that they pour. Will not return. read more

I've been living in the Inner Richmond for almost 4 years now (how time flies!!!) I've been coming to Kitchen Istanbul since its previous incarnation as the original location of Troya. I can honestly say that it's become somewhat of a staple in my life (there are times I'm here multiple times a week!). The food has always been good, the ambiance great when I'm looking for a place to have a relaxing meal and a good glass of wine, and the service has always been warm, hospitable and personal. Every time I walk in, I'm greeted with a warm welcome and a smile. The only thing that really changed over years is the new name, and the menu and quality of the food, which has only gotten better. Whether lunch, brunch, happy hour or dinner.... this place NEVER disappoints!!! Whether you live in the neighborhood or not, this place is worth a visit and I know you'll be back! read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Dessert! - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Kitchen Istanbul gave us such a delicious meal during the craziness of the shelter in place corona pandemic. The vegetarian moussaka, lamb kofta meatballs and zucchini fritters were all incredible! We are excited to go back once everything is open as normal. The decore seems to be very charming every time we walk by. read more

I had the... turkish style braised grass-fed beef With smoked eggplant purée & lebni Which was priced at $24 and I asked for a side of basmati rice which was $4. I'd say I'm a connoisseur of Mediterranean or middle eastern foods. I never tried Turkish food but this place had good reviews and I didn't want to leave from where I was stationed considering the parking situation in SF. The establishment appears to be very popular not sure if it be local or touristy, perhaps both. The place seems to be upscale only in contrast to the surrounding options it seems to me. I am only reviewing the food, which for me earns 2 out of 5 stars. Perhaps the other dishes are better. I can't say. If I would have known I was basically ordering pot roast over warm Baba Ganoush with a dab of sour cream on top and a side of Mexican style basmati rice... then I would not have been willing to shell out $28 plus tax and tip for it. The flavor was decent. I asked about the lebni and asked it it was sour cream and the gentleman said it was strained yogurt... well I know lebneh cheese... and it doesn't have the consistency or flavor of sour cream... whatever it was, they best call it sour cream rather than lebni. Anyway, the service was great, very classy servers... but I can't say I was impressed by this dish. In fact I'm making it tonight... at a home cost of $5... with real lebneh cheese. read more

The brunch and lunch are incredible! Our favorites are the croissant french toast and the roasted cauliflower wrap. Dinner is also delicious, but is more pricey. The service is great and always friendly. Highly recommend stopping in! read more

The food is quite good here. The kebabs are juicy and tender, moussaka is full of cheese. Would be a 4 star if the price hadn't been so high so the portion size. read more

Kitchen Istanbul is an experience of its own. We arrived Sunday night at 8:35 thinking that it closed at 10:00 but in fact it closed at 9:00... We almost left considering we didn't want to make them wait for us but they insisted we stay and I'm so glad we did! We ordered the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower appetizers and they were amazing! I normally don't enjoy Brussels sprouts but I even heated the leftovers for lunch and they were still delicious! The cauliflower worked well with the lemon and yogurt aioli they provided. The salmon kebab was moist and cooked just right. The only minor negative for me was the chicken kebab was slightly over cooked but otherwise, everything was on point. We would come back to this place in a heartbeat. Amazing service that didn't even rush us and they continued to clean while allowing us to finish our food. We left a very healthy tip as a thank you and I'm so grateful that they allowed us to stay and enjoy such delicious food. Highly recommended and a must-return! read more

Atmosphere: Relaxing, not too loud, friendly, perfect for dates and eating with colleagues. Food: Delicious Turkish cuisine. Falafels and Kebabs were must haves. The lamb was extremely tender and juicy Service: Incredibly nice waiters read more

Welcome to Flavor City! The server & host were so accommodating & informative. The most delicious dishes we loved! The Lamb Moussaka was wonderful! Roasted cauliflower, Brussels, Lentil Salad, Falafel were so refreshing & tasty! The Muhammara roasted red pepper, the divine yogurt, Hummus appetizer with Pita & Toasted Lavash! rocked! the The Lamb Chops just swooped it out of the ballpark! Five Star in my book! read more

All day today I was craving to have turkish food. My friend Gabi and I went so I can show her how delicious their dishes are. We were welcomed by the managed Nichot (I hope I spelled his name right). We socialized a bit since I am Lebanese (Lebanon and Turkey are neighbor countries). The complimentary bread crackers are very good. When it came to order food, I ordered the beef stew with labneh (last time i ordered "Beyti" and i wanted to try something new). It was as delicious if not more. The manager gave us 5 cheese rolls with honey sauce and crushed pistachios ON THE HOUSE. That was very nice of him. The service is excellent, the waiters always say "you're welcome" after we say thank you. It's my second time there and I know it wont be my last time either. In my opinion, this is the BEST Turkish restaurent in town, by far. read more

Kitchen Istanbul - Cheese rolls with honey sauce and crushed pistachios - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all