While this is a full fledged restaurant, we stopped by for dessert and coffee at teatime after a long day of walking around. We ordered some tea, coffee and couple of Rice Puddings and Ashure ( a traditional dry fruit and nut pudding) - both were delicious. This does seem like more of a touristy spot, with their walls adorned with famous guests like Bill Clinton, and so the prices were reflective of its reputation. read more

Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - Ashure - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Got the wrap and maybe should have gone with the cafeteria style offerings. Service was okay and the prices didn't seem outrageous. They needed more air conditioning. It's difficult to enjoy eating while you're sweating. ‍ read more

Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - Kabob wrap - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

We ordered the Doner kebab plate and the Doner wrap. Both me and hubby did not like it. The taste of the raw onion on the wrap was too strong. The doner itself , while it was not too bad, it is something that I will not order from this restaurant again (if we were going to come back here at all). The meat itself was very dry and did not have any dressing. So it was a sad meal for us. The service was okay. Price was high for what you get. Located near the Blue Mosque and the Hagai Sophia. read more

Located in the Sultanahmet District which is the most popular tourist area. You stand in front of the counter with the food and tell what you want . My wife got some eggplant and rice dish and I ordered a lamb dish which is roosted as you entered the restaurant. Just ok. read more

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Our Tour Manager recommended this place for lunch when we are waiting for Blue Mosque reopening after the prayer session. Over-priced! For a simple Doner Kebob plate and stuffed grape leaves, they charged 670 liras. read more

Came here with our tour guide since we wanted the local experience versus a fine dining one. They took our order on the bottom floor then we were seated upstairs where there is slightly more room. It's cafe style seating. I ordered the gyro Iskender - which means it's a plate of sliced gyro meat (yes, from the one in the window), over pita bread covered with a tomato sauce. Kinda messy, but there's bits of goodness to pick at - the gyro goes well with tomato dressing and there's also two large dollops of white cheese. Chicken with rice - pretty basic yet large whole chicken leg, accompanied by a separate plate of soft white rice. Atmosphere is bustling but not loud where you can't have a normal conversation. The food is good here but not anything that will knock your socks off. I'd recommend coming here because it's convenient, quick and centrally located. That's all. read more

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A few fun facts about this well known restaurant right near the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque and the park: 1. Food is made, how many hours, ahead of time. You will see it, already cooked, and then pick what you via the menu, I sense that something that rarely is chosen isn't in the premade and visible area. 2. I chose Falafel. It was tasty, with softness in the middle and extra crunchy on the outside. Now, it was hot, and thus a potential contender for having to be made, but it seemed over cooked or something.,it was hard. 3. The spouse had chicken with potatoes- a visible entree in the selected area. It came out heated, this is because anything you see in the selected area, is already in heated mode via something. She liked it, and I tasted the potatoes. They were soft and buttery with hints of lemon. Pricing was not outrageous. read more

Opened by brothers Idris and Namik Çolpan in 1957 Lale Pastanesi is commonly known as The Pudding Shop, its fame largely derived from proximity to Hagia Sophia and being the first place where tourists could obtain direct transport to Asia. Ever since a meeting place for fair-priced Food, the menu a mix of Turkish favorites and items like Onion Rings, it is atop tables decorated with currency that guests are invited to enjoy Doner or Kebabs while sipping salted Yogurt. No doubt touristy, complete with English-fluent staff and menus, Eggplant roasted around fatty Lamb is a highlight while those in the know won't skip Tavuk Göğsü made from Chicken Breast, Milk, Rice, Cinnamon and Sugar. read more

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Located right on the main street of old town Istanbul, this place has quick service and friendly talkative staff! Our tour guide brought us here after visiting some of the historical landmarks and ordered the chicken shish kebab plate, although I felt like the chicken was slightly dry it had great flavor, as for my mom and our tour guide they had soup which they enjoyed! They also have a butcher located in the right window where you get a lovely view of them slicing and preparing some doner! read more

Placed in the heart of the main square with tons of history. The location, the story, and the employees are great. The food was edible. Two dishes with very little flavor. On the higher side price for what you get. read more

Great afternoon lunch of Donner kebap. Fresh vegetables and very fresh bread all stuffed into a sandwich and served in a brown paper sack. Great street food! Noisy but not expensive. A great experience I drank Bottled water read more

The food was fantastic!! Great prices. All of the staff are so nice and welcoming. We had our food within minutes, very hot and fresh. Will definitely come here again! Right next to a lot of must see spots. The environment was clean, well ventilated, and comfortable. read more

Fairly price for otherwise ordinary Turkish food! I suppose it is at a touristy spot and considering Bill Clinton has been there, I guess it kinda is expected. Food was alright, menu was straight forward with no surprises, but food is quite pricy which is not the best. read more

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This is an iconic diner in Istanbul, Turkey made famous by the book and movie, "Midnight Express." Nowadays, the hippies are gone, and what remains is sort of a "tour of Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine" delights in a buffet-style format. Simply point to the food you want, load up and grab a seat. Wash it all down with some Raki, peer out the window at the landscape of trams and minarets and immerse yourself in a culture quite unlike anything you'll find in the States. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed this simple restaurant with its sign obviously catering to English-speakers. The realization that it was a tourist trap didn't matter. It was a fun place with a good vibe and a healthy mix of locals and foreigners. read more

Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - Miscellaneous yumminess at the Pudding Shop - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

The food was so so but the waiters were rushing us and rude. There is no ambiance as we had to share a table with others.

Every time I've eaten here I have had a very satisfying experience. Great cross section of Turkish food and atmosphere situated in a very historical section of the city. Can't wait to eat there again. read more

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A friend of ours had eaten here several years ago and suggested that we have dinner here. We were not disappointed. The menu provides a good cross-section of Turkish fare. We started with phyllo stuffed with cheese (cheese cigars). They were crispy and oh, so good. For our entrees, he had the mixed grill. All of the meat was tender, well-marinated and cooked. I had a bite of his chicken and it was particularly tasty. I had the "meat balls" which really were beef kofta. They were delightfully seasoned. The wait staff was very careful and sensitive to my food allergies and provided me with an alternative to the usual vegetable options. The only downside to the meal were the fries that were served with the mixed grill, which were a little oily. Otherwise, a very good meal for a reasonable price, especially considering that this restaurant is in the heart of the tourist district. It does appear to be frequented by both locals and tourists alike. English and Spanish are spoken there. They serve beer and wine. I would go back again before we leave. read more

Come for the history. Stay for the food! This historic waypoint for travelers was used for leaving messages for other travelers. As its name implies, the Pudding Shop originally sold pudding, but later expanded into other Turkish and Ottoman cuisine. Yes, the food is pricier than places just next door, but it's definitely excellent quality. All of their food is packed with flavor, and the ashure (dried nut and fruit) pudding is a good snack for those looking to eat a little lighter. I especially like their mushroom topped with bechamel. The service is great. One of my friends spent what felt like 10 minutes trying to get partial portions of everything they had to offer. I was getting more impatient than the staff. The next day, I brought a couple other friends here, and the staff didn't try to move us along, even though we only had pudding and tea. Even if you opt to just stop in to read letters sent to others and not eat anything, this place is worth a look. read more

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Central location, decent prices and good portions. After eating at a variety of places in the area my family and I agree that Pudding Shop meatball kebabs were our favorite. The restaurant displays most of there entrees, which is great for tourists you get to see the food before ordering it. Besides the meatball kebabs we also ordered a stuff potato plate which was delicious, unfortunately can't remember the name, it has meat and veggies inside potato. Delicious. Chicken kebab plate was good as well. Free wifi available :) read more

Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - Meatball kebob - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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It was totally a tourist trap! Our guide brought us here and of course he ate for free! I had stuff egg plant and my husband had a meatball dish, beer and a lemonade and cost us 80 Turkish Lire! That's highway robbery! Don't go here! read more

Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - Meatball dish - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Loved the creme caramel -- and the guy who recommended it to us. ;) Food was pretty good, but the real reason to come is the dessert. We also had baklava here -- my friend loved it, but it was too sweet for me (as is all baklava). We came during off season, so it wasn't crowded at all. This place is popular with tourists (recommended by Rick Steves) and locals (recommended by my new Turkish friend I met on the tram). Right next to the Sultanahmet tram stop -- stop by during your visit to Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, or Basilica Cistern. read more

I should have realised the reason why there are no recent reviews, no one goes there! It's awful. Food probably has been sitting there all days, tasteless, too salty and meat was as hard as jerky. This is my 9th visit to Istanbul, never had a bad meal in this lovely country till tonight.....Don't waste your money, go somewhere else. read more

This is our first time to Istanbul and we've been having a blast. Our tour guide brought us to this place which is very nearby the Hagia Sophia Church, Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern where you can see the Medusa is right around the corner. Their food is good, they have traditional dishes including doner and chicken kababs as well as Turkish tea. The prices are reasonable, for a meal for two with drinks we spent about $17 which is a steal. They offer an upstairs which is air conditioned and a downstairs which is not. Be sure to stop in and grab a seat before it gets too crowded due to the convenience and value. read more

One of the most popular self serve restaurants in the old city (Sultanahmet) in Istanbul, frequented by both locals and tourists. It's a traditional place with about 50 years of history, known as Lale Restaurant, where the "young hippies" in the past used to get together to find some friends on their journey to the "East". It has two floors serving to both groups and individuals. It has tens of different foods on display and you just order what you want to eat so they serve you. The food is plenty and is delicious. The owners are always at the restaurant checking for everything, I mean the aulity, the service, and so on. During the tourist season it gets very busy especially for the lunch hours, but if you go there before or after lunch hours or in the evenings it's very quite so you can sit and have your food in peace. read more

The Doner Kebob is amazing! It's the only thing you should order here the other food is not as good. It took them 30 seconds to give me my plate. Would also recommend the meatball place Tarihi 2 doors down. read more

I was intrigued by the name. Is pudding really a Turkish delicacy? After an exhausting day exploring the Grand Bazaar (didn't buy a single thing) and the Topaki, I was exhausted and the dogs were barking. I needed Turkish beer and Wifi. The Pudding Shop offers that and so much more. Staff was friendly and non judgmental when I ordered large beer before even being seated. I'm blown away with the history of this place and that it was the meeting point for far out people in search of the ultimate adventure in trekking to places like Afghanistan and Nepal and could meet here to work out the details. (Still unclear how pudding played a role in this) Only a generation ago could my parents have had such an experience yet it's something I can't dream of. After all, people are being beheaded less than a 1,000 miles from here. And when my children are old enough to explore I wonder if they will be able to visit the Pudding Shop. What will this region be like? Ok I'm sure you didn't click on this review for a philosophical reason so I'll get to the point. The beer was frosty and cold. The pudding was eh. Probably better served warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon as it appears in the menu. Anyways it's a good venue to decompress. read more

We came here on the recommendation of Rick Steve's Istanbul book. This was a fun experience, with a little bit of rush and confusion, but once we got our bearings, we were able to look and point at what we wanted, ask for clarification, and then sit while our food was brought out. Don't expect 5-Star service, but of all the quick service restaurants, Pudding Shop Lale is the one to visit. We came here twice during our stay b/c it was convenient, affordable, and quick! The Book of Rick Steve's also gets you 10% off. The photos on the wall are also fun to explore and guess about the backstory. read more

Our guide brought us to the Pudding Shop for lunch while on a tour of Istanbul. I should have realised when she left and went somewhere else that we weren't in for a treat. There's a counter of hot food, and you can order some various kebabs. I didn't have pudding (I was going to go after I ate my savoury food and get some, but it's not that kind of place - get it all at once or miss out). I had what they called moussaka, some sort of meat with aubergine. It was served room temperature (on purpose, but they didn't say it wasn't hot). It was really not good. It was chunks of boiled potato, topped with mashed potato (wha-wha?) with a few pieces of meat (lamb, I presume), a little aubergine, and then drowned in yoghurt. That, along with a coke, was ₺12. A bit pricey as it wasn't large at all. My other half had a truly awful kebab - but from what we can tell, doner kebabs are just like that in Turkey. Sliced quite thickly and fatty, without very much flavour and kind of dry. He left most of it, as I left mine. The place was busy, even in the off-season. We had to go up a steep flight of stairs to eat but the staff carried the cafeteria-style trays the food is served on for you. No one in our group of 10 enjoyed their savoury food - but the 2 people who had a pudding said they were good. read more

Was last here in 1973 -- jumping off point to the world. We arrived after driving our motorcycles through the East Block. My friends turned back, west, I continued east all the way to Australia, hitting everything in between. For travelers east, this place was the center of the universe. Thanks Pudding Shop. Thanks. read more

Went here because of Rick Steve's recommendation. Food was good, even though it was cafeteria style (not cooked to order). In a country were there are many cash only restaurants, it was nice that this one took credit cards. I thought it was a shame so many of their lunch combos they advertised came with french fries. read more

In general it is a nice place. Variety of food. Very clean place. Food not too spicy & not plain. The only thing that I did not like that I do not like fatty nor non-well done meat, our doner was too fatty & our chicken was not done enough read more

Fun for a tourist place close to the sights. Food was tasty, servers were entertaining, price wasn't super high (but not a bargain either). We had fun and the food was good. Reading the history of this place probably helped push it to 4 stars. read more

This is a totally average place in a touristy area. Istanbul is small... Walk 15 minutes out of the touristy area and you can find much better food for much cheaper. NO REASON TO EAT HERE UNLESS YOU ARE STARVING. Find a street vendor selling fried sardines instead. 8 TL for the best meal of your life. read more

Avoid it. Mediocre, too busy you can find much better in the area- even if it is touristy

Friendly staff. Excellent food. Coffee and pudding was pretty awesome as well. Recommend for sure!

you had me at pudding. i never realized how much pudding there was in the world until I went to Istanbul. Pudding out the yin yang! We ducked in here after some splitting a kofte place and getting some unfriendly service at the nearby koftecisi. I needed a lil somethin-somethin to sweeten the deal. Enter: PUDDING SHOP. (Which serves much more than pudding, btw) I can't' say much about the other food, but I tried a tasty traditional pudding called assure, which was chock full of fruits and nuts. This place is definitely a historic spot, with framed photos all over the walls from throughout the years. It's set up much like a cafeteria (you go through line and point at what you want). The employees were super nice and welcoming, even to this crazy American girl just getting one pudding and taking a million pictures of it before continuing on my way. Yay for the pudding shop! read more

Good food but a little pricey for what you get. It is for tourists, but if you are staying in the area and don't want to travel it isn't bad. Pudding was tasty. read more

At best a very mediocre meal in a very touristy area. Not expensive, but definitely pricey for what you could get within a stone throw of the entrance. You can literally see better food at cheaper prices from your table. Having said that, this is a legendary place as the hangout and start point of the hippy backpacking trail from the 60s and 70s. Everyone should at least pop in for the bragging rights of telling folks back home about it. Anyone who actually experienced it in its authentic heyday will love you as their eyes glow wide with fond memories of their backgammon and hash filled days... I don't know when it turned modern tourist, it it did. Go for the nostalgia. Have a quick snack...then go somewhere else for dinner. read more