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    The Khorasani

    4.2 (42 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Khorasani Photos

    THE KHORASANI ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - The Khorasani

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    Reviews With Photos

    Pistachio Kebob
    Ed Y.

    First of all, it's not Michelin restaurant. It's probably on the Michelin guide but definitely not a Michelin one star restaurant so don't be fooled thinking it is. For me anything not Michelin one star or above is not considered a Michelin restaurant. Of course the price is also not Michelin star restaurant which is great. However note that the price is mostly for tourists so you are paying European price so prepared to pay more than local restaurants. I did try both the spicy eastern goulash which is not spicy at all so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a kick and the meat tastes so so. The pistachio kebob is actually decent and supposed it's a recipe from the sultans. It is interesting to have pistachio embedded in the meat and overall it's pretty delicious. I do wish there are more fat in the kebob as it would be a lot juicier. The puffy bread is really good. Tastes like naan. Overall it's an alright experience and wouldn't say it's a miss albeit slightly more expensive than the quality.

    Lamb with pistachio
    Brenda K.

    We've been lucky enough to spend a few days touring Istanbul and our guide suggested we have lunch at Khorasani. WONDERFUL food right in the Faith District in the Old City. We had the lamb & pistachio kebab; the lamb on a bed of yogurt-baba-ganoush; the mahummara meze and the eggplant stuffed with vegetables meze. Exceptionally good food and service! And the conversion-rate made this a surprisingly reasonable meal, considering the talent!

    Lamb Tanduri

    After trying a few different restaurants in the area, we stumbled upon this gem in the heart of Istanbul. The food is superb, with every dish we tried made to perfection. Although we explored other options in the neighborhood, we collectively decided that Khorasani was by far the best of all. The restaurant is reasonably priced for the location and is worth every penny.

    Khorasani Ocakbaşı
    Bruce K.

    Khorasani was the lunch stop for our walking tour and it was a good choice. Turkish, but mainstream enough that anyone who thinks they like Turkish food will be okay. It wasn't too busy when our party of eight dropped in and they did a good job of managing our orders, getting our drinks straight (Efes!) and chopping up the checks nicely. As for the food, well, I'll just say it was great. The salad was okay, the pita was excellent and the spicy kebab was "spicy tasty" not "spicy hot". Rice was excellent and the baklava for dessert was excellent. And all around really good meal.

    Adam D.

    My friend and I loved this place so much, we went two nights in a row. The second night was his birthday so he didn't want to take any chances of a having a bad experience somewhere else. I couldn't blame him. From the enormous, fresh, complementary bread to the color and flavor of the cold appetizer trey, to the attentiveness to filling up you wine glass, to checking up on you after your food is served, the whole experience here is impeccable. The service was professional, confident, inviting and incredibly friendly. They were so happy to see us two nights in a row, and when I told them it was my friend's birthday, I was not expecting them to turn the 'Happy Birthday' song on the restaurant's speakers and bring out a colorful, candle lit dessert, followed by a full staff. Felt like we were right back at home. Khorasani understands how to cater to tourists, and apparently the owner knows how to corner his market (he owns 3 other restaurants side by side, all on the same street). The decor here is very modern and the charcoal grill in the middle of the restaurant is very cozy. The same goes for the sofa seating they offer outdoors under the heat lamp. I highly recommend this place to anyone staying in the Fatih district of Istanbul. I might even go out of my way to eat here if you're staying further away. Bravo!

    Adana kebab
    Jay Y.

    Khorasani stands out even in the midst of tourist-catering restaurant! While it also catered mainly toward tourists, this restaurant nonetheless makes an excellent meal stop because of its delicious dishes, generous additions, and good service. After a long intercontinental flight, I wanted a quick meal near the Blue Mosque and my prior research pointed me to this restaurant based on past positive reviews. As soon as I sat down and ordered my dish, I was greeted with a small basket of bread with garlic hummus dip. Initially, I suspected that this was a trick to tack on extra charge, but the waiter ensure that it's on the house! I tried the bread with the dip, and loved the softness of the bread and the garlic savory taste of the hummus dip. It was a good start to my first meal in Turkey - and to think that I used to dislike hummus in the US! Then my entree of Adana kebab arrived. Made from finely-grounded lamb meat, the Adana kebab was surprisingly filling and packed with flavors, even though it looked deceptively small-portioned and unremarkable. On the same plate, the included rice pilaf was another delicious surprise with subtle flavors and the salad vegetable was fresh and crisp. For about 30 TL, the dish was a delicious mini feast! When I asked for the bill, the waiter asked if I would like a cup of tea and knowing my suspicious nature, added that it's complimentary. At first I declined but as I was paying my bill, I noticed that everyone - locals and tourists - around me had a tulip-shaped cup of tea and it dawned upon me that tea was an important drink in Turkey (a fact that I verified later in my trip) so I changed my mind and requested for the tea. Even after I paid my bill, the waiter without hesitation brought me the complimentary tea to end my meal. Overall, the total charge was 36 TL, which included water and 10% service. While it's the typical cost of a meal especially in the Sultanhamet area, you certainly would get more food from the same price because of the complimentary bread, hummus, and tea. In addition, the meal here remains one of the best I had in Istanbul and is comparable to the authentic meal I had outside the tourist district, so I definitely recommend dining here when you need a nice sit-down meal in Sultanahmet.

    Sitting area
    Refik N.

    Pricey but loved it - food was good but they need to improve their customer service - we were four people and i asked for some clarification which they didn't feel like explaining us. However the quality of food was goos.

    Light dinner for 2
    Amna F.

    I visited this restaurant for dinner in Feb 2016 during a one-night stay in Istanbul. Complimentary bread is given and was the highlight. We ordered hummus, lahmacun (Turkish pizza), beef main, and a Coke. I guess there was some sort of miscommunication because instead of the beef main, we received a Kofte app. We decided that a light meal was fine so didn't even bring it up to the server. I found the food to be ok, but nothing special. I later noticed a 10% surcharge on the receipt... this wasn't on my lunch receipt so seems to be a forced tip rather than tax, so be mindful of this. Total bill was 46 TL / 23 Canadian dollars.

    Christina S.

    Perfect quaint little cafe right off the main street in Sulthanamet - the area is called Fatih. But, you would never guess that you're off the main street, which is loud and bustling with cars, as the tree lined street that this restaurant sits on is very quiet and seemed to be closed to anything but foot-traffic. Very convenient if you're staying at the Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (http://bit.ly/15ietbM) or in the vicinity of the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia. Khorasani boasts the largest and most colorful selection of mezes to go with their GIGANTIC hot bread "pouf". Loved their Cacik (the traditional yogurt, dill, cucumber dip) the best of all the ones we tried in Turkey. The spicy hot salad and the Anatolian olive tray are amazing dishes along with the lentil balls. And definitely, don't miss the olive oil tasting! This was the only restaurant that we ate, literally, an entire dinner of mezes - so tasty. We sat outside on the street both evenings. It was comfortable, and when the sun went down, we utilized the throws that are on each seat at the tables. That made for a PERFECT EVENING! The staff is very attentive, making sure that my glass was full and my bread basket topped off with that hot pouf at all times! Of all the places we dined in Turkey, Khorasani is my favorite (and I can't wait to go back)!

    Delicious baked hummus!
    Erica B.

    One of my favorite restaurants during a recent trip to Turkey! This place had both great service and great food! My favorite dishes were the baked humus and minced lamb with pistachio and cheese kebob. Dishes were very well prepared and fresh. Reasonably priced and located on a beautiful cobble stone block. Great for groups and dates

    Mediterranean salad with an assortment of dressings in the back.
    Nadia R.

    Lives up the the hype- great Turkish food. We ordered the meze to start, which they brought out with their complimentary bread. It was amazing and you should definitely order it. There were two different types of yogurt dip, hummus, eggplant dip, a spicy tomato, onion, and garlic dip, and something called muhamamara. The muhamamara was my favorite dip of all; it was a mix of walnuts, paprika, tomato, and garlic and super spicy. I could eat that all day. For the main course, I ordered the Mediterranean salad which was delicious. One thing I've noticed about the Turkish restaurants is that they serve entree sized portions of salad. It was SO filling and refreshing and simply a wonderful excuse to drown myself in the pomegranate dressing they serve. The rest of the party ordered the minced beef and lamb kabob which came with a pilaf, bread, and a side salad. No complaints from them about it. My mom said the pilaf was "really good". I recommend this place to tourists looking for some good food.

    Complementary Pita
    Ian Maren C.

    Wow the hotel concierge was right, best lamb I've had in a while!!! It's not necessarily a touristy place although they are right near the Hagia Sophia, but waiters are very friendly and their English is good. Got there a little before noon with just myself and another table. Thirty minutes later the place was packed. Great to sit outside and people watch.

    The restaurant interior
    Michelle F.

    Very tasteful food indeed. The bbq is delicious. Also free good wifi. Just didn't give 4 stars or more because I thinks it's an ok place. Nothing surprising. No mistakes. Also, my bill was about $40, while I think it worth it about $30. This is because of the drinks, always expensive: a fresh squeezed orange juice for $9 should be forbidden when you can find orange juice on the streets for 50 cents.

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    3 years ago

    Food and service was exceptional. We spent a week in the Istanbul old city which means we had 15-20 meals. This place was in the top 2.

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    Likely the most bland meal we had during our trip. Geared to tourists with menus in various languages and prices to match.

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    The Khorasani Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - The Khorasani

    It's not necessarily a touristy place although they are right near the Hagia Sophia, but waiters are very friendly and their English is good.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Roof Mezze 360 - Mezze plate and meat platter

    Roof Mezze 360

    4.9(61 reviews)
    0.6 kmHobyar, Hoca Paşa Mh.

    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!

    Beautiful views, nice restaurant, huge menu. Had some really good mezze and shared the turkish…read moreravioli that we hadn't seen elsewhere and were like dim sum. The views, food, and service make for an unforgettable experience.

    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

    Afrodit Restaurant - Sea bass

    Afrodit Restaurant

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.5 kmKemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mh.

    Ok, hear me out, there are a million and one restaurants here and honestly it can be overwhelming…read more I knew I wanted seafood and I knew I wanted to be by the water. Double check. Host was super nice greeting us and told us to 'go up to the 5th floor for same price'. Say less. And what a view it was!! Instant happiness in my book. We waited an uncomfortably long time for our server and begin to doubt our choices. He definitely didn't have the same charm as the Host, but we stayed. The table that was next to the window left and our server offered for us to move over to the better view. Redemption for you, Sir! Then the food began. Ordered Calamari for the table to share. It was cooked to perfection. In fact, it stole the show. So good! My linguine was a comforting experience, a bit on the bland side, but tends to be how things are served here. I did sample some other plates of those dining with me and each one was perfecto in taste. The Fish Meatballs (fish cakes) were similar to something my grandmother made years ago. Happy memory. Paid our check and was offered a complimentary tea or coffee. We chose the tea. A little bitter for all of our liking, but not dinging them for that. Then the waiter served us a complimentary dessert. Amazing! The act and the taste. I thought it tasted similar to Cream of Wheat with a cinnamon, butter note, warmed up and served with ice cream underneath. Wow! What a great way to end the night. Overall, highly recommend. Very satisfied.

    This place is next to a pier. The restaurant has multi floors, but I dined indoor on the ground…read morelevel. The server was very cool and attentive. I ordered more than I could actually handle. I really loved the dessert or Irmik if I spelled it correctly. OMG, with so many places to try, I kept thinking about this places days after. And I still wanted to try their fried oyster. It's a 4.9 out of 5. Will come again when I visit istanbul!

    Photos
    Afrodit Restaurant - Offene Terrasse im 5. Stock

    Offene Terrasse im 5. Stock

    Afrodit Restaurant - Dry salt prepared sea bass

    Dry salt prepared sea bass

    Afrodit Restaurant - Little friends

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    Little friends

    Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek

    Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek

    3.7(27 reviews)
    1.2 kmEminönü, Rüstem Paşa Mh.

    Great place to get a cheap and tasty Balık Ekmek. The fish was very good inside for being so…read moresimple. The staff want you in and out very quickly. Be careful of small bones in your fish sandwich however, there was a lot. You order and they hand you the food almost immediately

    I agree with the poster who wrote, "they don't really understand what the hype is all about" …read more.. Coming from a developed nation we are accustomed to eating moderately to great quality of fish, I understand from a local that seafood is really unaffordable to the regular citizens of Turikye, so I understand that a fast and affordable option is available. However, there is no seasonings on this fish, just slightly grilled, and there is a kinda-of-lemon dressing and salt and the table perches around their establishment looking over onto western side of the Bosporus Straight, dressed inside with sliced onion and some lettuce. The bread that enrobes the fish is a huge piece of hogie, sub bread really too much bread for fish -- and let me not start on the bones?! I ate the fish without the bread, just dressed with salt and every bite there were leat 3-5 bones and the fish had a lot of fat I left behind. Meh meh meh recommendation. I will commend their quickness to serve the food, and the massive amounts they crank out. I think this fish is a small spanish mackerel of some kind?

    Photos
    Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek - Fischbrötchen 2012

    Fischbrötchen 2012

    Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek
    Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek

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    The Khorasani - seafood - Updated July 2026

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