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    Lezzet-i Şark

    4.7 (17 reviews)
    ModerateTurkish, Kebab
    Closed 8:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Lezzet-i Şark Photos

    LEZZET-I ŞARK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Lezzet-i Şark

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    Delicious and hearty lamb soup!
    Jennifer H.

    This place is so great we came here twice during our trip to Istanbul! Our first time was for breakfast. We came early and didn't realize their full menu wasn't available yet. We got the lamb soup, which was so savory, rich, and thick. They provide bread and leafy greens as the perfect companions for the hearty soup. I'll have to say this soup was probably one of my favorite meals when visiting Istanbul. The second time we came here was for lunch the day we left Istanbul. I ordered the Urfa kebab, and my friend ordered the kunefe dessert. The kebab was delicious and had a spicy kick. Each time, the service was super fast and friendly. Highly recommend this place if you are close to the Spice Bazaar.

    12 TL for 4 of these yummy golden delights (Icli Kotfe)
    Ryan M.

    This place is located in the Spice market. I decided to stop in because i saw a picture of one of the things that i wanted to try while in Turkey; Icli Kofte, ground bulgar wheat stuffed with spiced meat and deep fried. Anything fried has to be good right? I didn't know how to pronounce it so i just pointed to the picture. there were 4 of them for 12 TL ($6 US) They looked delicious; crispy deep golden brown color shell. Inside was soft tender and packed with spices but not chili pepper hot. Very delicious and my favorite thing to eat on the whole trip. You can find them all over istanbul in sit down type restaurants not so much the bufe shops which are more like take out places. Rule of thumb for tipping, if its a sit down type place, and they give you bread with your meal then you should probably leave 10% (if they don't add the 5% service charge), if they add the 5% service charge then you don't need to tip. If they don't give you bread and its more of a finger food on the go type thing then no need either.

    esther h.

    This is the only restaurant that we visited more than once during our stay in Istanbul. The lamb soup, beef soup, kebab, and the cheese dessert were all yummy! On our third day in Istanbul the weather took a sharp turn and it was cold rainy and stormy. The lamb soup really hit the spot. Beef soup and lamb soup actually share the same soup base just different type of meat. They serve leafy green (arugula), lemon wedges, and pita bread on the side. And they accept Apple Pay! Highly recommended!

    Inside
    Bob M.

    What a find! Yes, a "Hole in the Wall" place outside the Egyptian Bazaar/Spice Market. It was Outstanding. We highly recommend the "Kunefe" a Cheese dessert covered with Pistachios that they are making at the front of this restaurant. Not to be missed. Everything here is Delicious

    Fresh Künefe with turkish tea.
    William L.

    Had their künefe with turkish tea. Oh so wonderful. It's all freshly made and eating here in the midst of the spice Bazaar busyness is one kind of experience!

    Sheep tongue and cheek soup, and an order of Icli kofte.

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    7 months ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Loved the food. Unlike the U.S. all their meat is always fresh and never frozen. Always cooked to perfection.

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    The food was very good and service was fast. You have to try their dessert- the kunefe, it's a must!! My family and I loved it!

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Loved this joint. Funky, and very good, and friendly. Sweet folks too. Ask for their recommendations.

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    Lezzet-i Şark Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Lezzet-i Şark

    Beef soup and lamb soup actually share the same soup base just different type of meat.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Traditional dessert

    Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant

    4.8(307 reviews)
    0.9 kmAlemdar, Alemdar Mh.
    ₺₺

    This was my first night in Istanbul and I eased tired from traveling from cappadocia earlier in the…read moreday. This restaurant was close to my hotel and had great reviews on Yelp. When I arrived there was only one other customer inside. The restaurant decor was cute and I very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming. This spot was a bit pricey just like most of the restaurants in this touristy area. I had certain Turkish entrees i wanted to try during my vacation. I ordered the Iskender kebab which is beef and pita bread covered with tomato sauce with yogurt on the side. I ordered a side salad to go with it. The dish was very delicious as you can tell in one of my pics. I chatted with some of the staff about life in Istanbul. I was offered some complimentary pomegranate tea before I left and it hit the spot. This is definitely a place to check out when you're in the area.

    A MUST TRY. As an American, I have been SO impressed with food here in Turkey and if you are in the…read morearea, this restaurant is an absolute MUST-TRY if you're looking for great food. I had some of THEE BEST chicken kebab I've ever had in this country here. The beef kebab was also tender and flavorful. You cannot go wrong with any of these! The service was quick and prompt, and the servers were great at making recommendations. I came here in the winter so we sat indoors which felt a bit cramped however, there is also outdoor seating during the nicer weather months. If I'm ever back here in Istanbul, I would definitely come back. And if you're reading this, you NEED to try the Old Ottoman!

    Photos
    Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Streetside

    Streetside

    Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant
    Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Wall outside the restaurant.

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    Wall outside the restaurant.

    Roof Mezze 360 - Mezze plate and meat platter

    Roof Mezze 360

    4.9(60 reviews)
    0.8 kmHobyar, Hoca Paşa Mh.

    Amazing place! Incredible atmosphere! The Menu is fantastic and the service is wonderful!! Not to…read moremention the views of the Bosphorus. Highly recommend

    I LOVE this spot. The views, the food, the service, the music .. I love it!…read more This is where I was first introduced to adjika, a tasty pepper sauce that is served with their table bread, which is also delicious. I had to grab some at a local market. I highly recommend the chicken kabobs, juicy and well seasoned. Also enjoyed the margaritas, stiff and not overly sweet. Staff is pleasant and attentive. The views are unmatched in the evening. Make your reservation in advance to secure your sunset table. The inside is nice and classy but I simply adore the open air views from the roof. The birds really set off the skyline and you can see several of the mosques around. Not SUPER expensive but it is in the higher end price wise compared to their surrounding competition -- 100% worth it in my book. I will definitely go again on my next visit. Glad I could introduce it to a friend this go round. The only thing I disliked about this place is the "dining dome" as I called it. A portion of the roof now offers seating in a large plastic dome. The dome is scratched up and obstructs the view of the city but does protect diners from the wind. I was not a fan of this dome. I'm sure it's something someone saw on the internet and implemented .. I hope they get rid of it, it's super unnecessary. Otherwise -- LOVE!

    Photos
    Roof Mezze 360
    Roof Mezze 360
    Roof Mezze 360 - Complimentary tea to end the meal

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    Complimentary tea to end the meal

    Galata Kitchen - Traditional Turkish breakfast for 1

    Galata Kitchen

    4.5(30 reviews)
    1.1 kmMüeyyedzade Mh., Şahkulu, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa

    Everything I ate here was utterly delicious and unique. The staff was lovely and so helpful. Their…read morerecommendation of what to order was spot on. I'm already craving a second visit.

    Galata Kitchen is not a doner grill and it doesn't open onto a busy street with a big outdoor…read morepatio. After two days having some great meals in Istanbul of that type, we looked for something different. Not far from Galata Tower, GK is on a side street with little foot traffic. It has a big modern sign back off the street and one of the operators saw us hesitating where to enter and waved us in from the front entrance. Inside it has whimsical and funny decorations and serious books mounted on the wall, but is not atmospheric, more like a diner. BUT the food is displayed in a case, hot and cold entrees separated, so you can see what you are ordering. You pick what you want and they assemble your choices on a plate and bring it to the table. Hot entrees included chicken bites in a tomato sauce and chicken with onions, lamb stew and beef and plenty of salad and vegetable choices in the cold display case. The group of men running the place that night were low key but personable, answering our questions about food items and Turkish literature. Service was prompt but understated and helpful. Our group of four had a great time and the menu is diverse enough that everyone found choices that pleased them. But remember, we came in expecting something very good other than doner kebap and were not disappointed!

    Photos
    Galata Kitchen - Restaurant interior

    Restaurant interior

    Galata Kitchen
    Galata Kitchen - Restaurant exterior

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    Restaurant exterior

    Şehzade Cağ Kebap

    Şehzade Cağ Kebap

    4.4(92 reviews)
    0.6 kmHobyar, Hoca Paşa Mh.
    ₺₺

    You know a restaurant is good when their menu is simple and they only specialize in one thing- cag…read morekebab. We came on a weekday evening for dinner and found a line already forming around 6PM. Despite the crowd, there was a quick turnaround, and we were able to get seated quickly after only 10 minutes of waiting. We ordered the cag kebab wrap, soup of the day (lentil soup), and a side of salad. The kebab was nicely seasoned, with each bite delivering a rich, savory flavor. I also loved all the Turkish lentil soups and this one was no exception- it's tangy, savory and extremely comforting to drink on a cold night.

    On a culinary tour in Istanbul, Turkey with Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street. They guided us…read morethrough the markets, gave us historical highlights and fed us at all levels from fine dining, food stall and street vendors. All of the places have been vetted by our guides as they share a personal connection with the very friendly vendors. Sehzade Cag Kebap was hands down, the best lamb kabobs I've ever had. The staff here are rock stars, smiling, engaging with patrons and welcoming everyone to stick your head into the kitchen and view the succulent wheel of lamb meat. Your sense heighten as you sit and get ready to eat one of the best lamb dishes I've ever had. This feeling was shared with several members of our tour. Language could of been an issue here, but the smiling and friendly staff watched intensely as we inhaled their delicious entree. Their condiments were onions, red pepper paste, pomegranate molasses, tomatoes and plenty of homemade bread. They allow the star, "savory lamb meat" to be featured and not be buried by the accutramonts. It is a truely stunning dish and voted #9 in the world for best kabob. If you are in the market of the Old City, please look up Sehzade Cag Kebap, your taste buds will thank you. To the amazing team, excited about their talented skills, thank you for this incredible meal. Great quality food, we will return!

    Photos
    Şehzade Cağ Kebap - The kebab spit.

    The kebab spit.

    Şehzade Cağ Kebap - Cag Kebab

    Cag Kebab

    Şehzade Cağ Kebap

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    Lezzet-i Şark - turkish - Updated June 2026

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