I was looking for a place for Sunday brunch and was considering going into D.C. until I found Yayla on Yelp! It's a short walk from the East Falls Church Metro station. My grandparents were born in the region of Southeastern Turkey and Northern Syria and I was hoping to find "our food". I was not disappointed. The grape leaf dolma was what we called yaprak, the rice filling was slightly sweetened with currants and had some pine nuts for crunch. Just as it should be. The Chef's Cigars are a rolled cheese boereg, with a thin fried pastry. We called these "Selaki" in Kessab, one of my fathers favorites. The lahmacun had a perfect thin crust. The topping was moist and slightly spicy. I could not tell if it was lamb or beef. I had the savory yogurt drink, which is "Ayran" in Turkish, a perfect compliment. Service was prompt and very friendly, they have Cafè seating outside and the weather was beautiful. I will go back on a future trip to D.C. Need to try more of the mezze and the Adana kebab. read more

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We had a few fantastic evening at Yayla. The food was exceptional. We had the mezze platter and the grill platter, plus an order of salmon. The meats were cooked perfectly. The spreads were delicious. Even the picky eaters in my party enjoyed the food. The service was spectacular. From helping us make wine and food selections to making my husband's birthday special. By the way, leave room for dessert. My hubby is still dreaming of that baklava. We will definitely be back! read more

Nice white table cloth restaurant. Can get noisy in dining room at peak hours. Favorites are the mezze the small plates which come with fresh Turkish bread. Mostly ordered kabobs here a couple times could have been more well done sometimes but generally good. Staff is professional and attentive. There is parking around but if busy you may have to search a bit not sure if adjacent parking garage is public. There is some outdoor seating and a small bar area inside. A go to place for me. read more

Amazing food. Amazing service (had the best waitress ever). Amazing drinks. Great experience overall. Will be back again. and again. and again. lol. read more

Yayla Bistro - meat platter Mixed Grilled Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We always go to Yume sushi but this time, we ended up going to Yayla bistro. I had a free dessert from check in on Yelp which I didn't use. The appetizers seem authentic. And. I really wanted to try Moussaka but we ended up getting full with just appetizers. Our server was nice and they bring a complimentary bread and tapenade. The bread was ok but we really liked the tapenade. From the appetizers we got manti (Turkish ravioli) which is a traditional Turkish food and took me back to Istanbul days. The other two appetizers we got were fried zucchini with tzatziki sauce which was good. And last but not least was the sigar boregi which are these cheese rolls. For the dessert, they had special kunefe for that day which was $10 but well worth it with great tea. I would definitely go back to try more of their food and this time. read more

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Good food, great ambiance and service!! Sutlac was amazing, not too sweet We will be back read more

Yayla Bistro - Sutlac - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The food was awesome! And the restaurant was very accommodating for our party of 8. It was girls night out before a wedding and we appreciated the great service from Cesar! read more

Delicious food and great service! We loved the manti and the Turkish coffee. The baklava is excellent!

Amazing service and food, would definitely come back again iA. Everything is halal and great sitting area too. Restaurant looks very beautiful and it has great outdoor sitting area too. Everyone should try it at least once. read more

My wife and I have been here numerous times, pre-COVID, but last Tuesday was the first time since... and I brought along my parents. All fours of us enjoyed our dinners, and the service was top-flight. Yayla and the staff really "... hit it out of the park!" read more

TURKISH DELIGHT. My friends and I literally ordered the whole menu and every single bite we had was a winner. The cacik was thick and creamy with a bit of a tang. I poured it on EVERYTHING and it just kept getting better. Luckily for me, their housemade bread kept on coming hot and fresh out of the oven. The mixed grill platter which comes with filet mignon, lamb, chicken, rice, bulgar, and veggies is a great deal and comes with more than enough food for two people. Everything was well seasoned, tender and succulent. Dessert was an extra bonus, I loved their rice pudding so comforting with warming spices! The best part of our meal was our gracious server who walked us through the entire experience without being overbearing at all. I am excited to come out and support this local business again! read more

Great food, great service. Came with a large group and our waitress was very helpful with our ordering. We tried a lot of things, but really enjoyed the meat sampler and shrimp skewers. read more

First of all, the most important thing is food, and food is good here. Place is nice, and service is good except of one servers who seated us then lest us waiting. Another server came in who was very knowledgeable and took care of us. I would recommend this place to anybody for sure. read more

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I m Turkish and studied Culinary Arts. Although, i dont do my job I know my food. I usually have lunch at Yayla and this place is one of the best Turkish food around. Food is never disappointing, tastefully decorated environment and great service. I ve been going there for years and always same lady waits on my table. I believe her name is Rona. Always super nice and friendly without overwhelming. I would love to try it for dinner but i live in another state. So, I usually stop by for my business trips. read more

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Simply excellent. Our first time - not our last. I highly recommend the sampler platters or dinners for 2 or 4. Great varieties and tastes. All perfect. Baklava expertly made. Not soaked in honey. Delicious. read more

Beautiful Turkish food in Arlington We had great appetizer to start our meal follow with a couple of more dishes that they were all delicious and beautiful read more

We are regular visitors to Yayla and enjoy it every time. The food is great, the service wonderful, and the ambiance is varied based on the experience you want -- dining room, small quiet bar, and outdoor options. Vegetarians and pescatarians will have tasty options. read more

Wonderfuly delicious. Great wine selection. Highly recommend. Beautiful dining room, nice outside patio for socially distanced dining. I used to have a standing dinner here weekly. I now live downtown and it's not as convenient, but I still make the effort to drag people out to Yayla! The staff is so knowledgable and courteous. Always have great wine pairing suggestions. Top picks are phyllo cigars, lentil soup and falafel. read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My wife and I had a belated Valentine's Day dinner at Yayla Bistro last night, and I must say it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had! All of the food was delicious, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was just perfect for a romantic evening together. The artwork, soft music and dining room setup give off a very classy, elegant vibe that makes it easy to relax and have intimate conversations. We especially enjoyed the baba ghanoush and Spanish Malbec, an my wife capped off the evening with a slice of rich, decadent chocolate temptation. With a newborn at home this was our first date night of the year, I could not have asked for a better experience. Thanks Yayla Bistro! read more

Very nice brunch. Not your typical but pretty cool. I love both Turkish tea and coffee. Fun shareable foods.

Happily came across Yayla Bistro while exploring the neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon, we noticed people eating brunch outside and the food looked yummy. I'm very glad we stopped, the waiter was super nice and answered my questions regarding the traditional Turkish menu selections. Everything tasted delicious and I will definitely stop by again to try some of the other menu selections. read more

Great food, very nice ambiance, best for lentil soup, lahmacun and deserts. Fast-ish service.

Wow this was soo good! I ordered through yelp to pick up my dinner and they only took the estimated 20 mins to prepare it, right on time, thanks! The restaurant itself is adorable and they have 2 patio areas, one is covered. The food was delicious too. I ordered the beet salad, baba ghanoush, and the kofte from the grill. I'd recommend this restaurant to my friends who enjoy aesthetic places with good food. read more

Yayla Bistro - Beer Beet Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Good food, nice staff. Great neighborhood restaurant. Word word word word word word word word word read more

I love Yayla for so many reasons. Number one though is that they don't have loud music and you can actually hear one another. The food is amazing and my family is from Istanbul so we have high expectations. They start the meal with delicious bread and an olive tapinade and the menu is filled with so many delicious choices. My mother had the Manti and shepards salad which were delicious. The rest of us split the Grilled meat platter (for 4 but could have fed 6)which included lamb, beef, chicken and a traditional turkish dish called Adana (slightly spicey ground beef/lamb). The staff are so nice and attentive. Can't wait to go back! read more

Party of six but still had attentive, quick service. Food was great, varied appetizers and main courses were universally praised. Just a good place to eat. read more

We shared a variety of vegetarian appetizers. The food was perfect. We enjoyed every dish. The only thing I'd change would be to serve pita rather than the bread that's provided. read more

Had high hopes for this place, based on there almost perfect reviews...unfortunately the food was bland and unseasoned... had the meat platter, came with rice and grilled vegetables.. the vegetables were flavorless and under cooked.. The food came with a sauce that lacked flavor. I was dying for a hint of seasoning, couldn't find.it. Portions were a joke, very small, great if your on a diet..On a positive note one of our friends had the spinach pie which was good.. Overall Very disappointed, the food was almost buffet style, hate to write a bad review.. read more

Yayla Bistro - View from seating - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I went to Yayla on a Friday night during COVID. The place looks nice on the inside, with a bar section and a dining section, separated by a wall. I imagine this results in two contrasting atmospheres under normal circumstances, so that would be interesting to see. I ordered a Turquoise something and an Agean Sea. The Agean was pretty citrus-y, but not overpoweringly so. The turquoise was basically a Blue Motorcycle (or MFer), and was a bit too sweet in my opinion. Both drinks were worth the price in terms of alcohol content. For food, I had the grilled salmon and vegetables. It really looked more like vegetables with a side of salmon rather than the other way around. The food was good though. the salmon was evenly cooked and the vegetables were crisp. I did feel like some flavor was missing, but perhaps that's just because I'm not used to how food from this part of the world tastes. The chef also came out for feedback, which I appreciated. The bill for two meals and two drinks came out to $70. The experience here was a decent one, but I don't think I'd be coming back. Not because it was bad, but just because it's not my type of food. Food: 7/10 Drinks: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Aesthetics: 10/10 Value: 7/10 Overall: 42/50 read more

Yayla Bistro - Salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great customer service. Food is healthy, not as tasty, but compared to portions they offer a little bit overpriced.

This place had a nice date night kind of feel. Great place if you live locally and don't want to travel to DC. Service was friendly and on point. We found the atmosphere welcoming. I gave the 4 stars for service and atmosphere and just hoping it may have been the chefs "off" day. Food quality was ok. After reading previous reviews, my expectations were high. I love middle eastern food but I was just not feeling it here. My family likes this place but they don't really eat a lot of middle eastern food... So I'll give it another try. Htipit-I'm not a fan of peppers, but it was ok. The bread that came to the table was dry. Lamb shank kabob was dry. Moussaka-the egg plant was really mushy. Portion sizes were decent and parking is available in the building next door as well as meter parking in front. read more

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Descent food, good service, nice atmosphere, limited menu, pretty pricy! When I crave for Turkish Mediterranean food, I will go back!

I came with my friends to have Friday dinner The food was ok Noting special But in the pictures everything looks amazing always Not my cup of tea read more

Yayla has been a place we've frequented in the past for authentic Turkish cuisine and a warm atmosphere. The food is made with love, and you feel it!! Isa, our waiter for tonight, has been fantastic-- hospitable, friendly, offered great choices, and you can feel his love for the job! Thank you Isa and Yayla for a wonderful night! read more

Yayla Bistro - Delicious trio spread - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Yayla is a weekly treat for us, both because the food is delicious and they're super tolerant of our toddler (don't worry, we sit in the bar tables as opposed to the cloth tablecloth dining room). During stay at home, we've ordered at least once a week from the fixed price or limited menus. Throw in a chilled bottle of rose and it's a nice taste of normal. They've focused the menu on a mix of fresh (salads, veggies, meats, rice, spreads) and comforting (moussaka, pasta, lamb burger) foods, as well as baklava to finish. You can grab delivery or drive up; Ahmed will be happy to run the food out and drop it in your car. We can't wait til it is time to resume dining in, but this is a great fix each week. read more

Yayla Bistro - Saturday night doner special! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Amazing spot! It's restaurant week this week which was a truly great deal, but we just ordered some drinks and mezze plates for happy hour. Sat outside, did park mobile for parking on the street, and had a lovely evening. Had a delicious cosmo with our food. Our waitress was very lovely, and the staff here works really hard. We had the mezze platter for two and the salmon, and our drinks. Had a fun happy hour out and will definitely be back! Loved the outdoor seating. Felt like eating at home with my family. Yayla! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mezze Platter For 2 - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Wonderful food and service! There were six in our group and we enjoyed the space, and as always the food was excellent.

This place is a gem. First, the tables are set apart so even in a full dining room, which isn't all that big to begin with, you can hear and talk clearly at your table. The service is first class, very attentive, your water glass is never empty. Entrees are about $25, give or take. Fair and reasonable, doubly so given their quality, which is outstanding. The moussaka is fantastic and I say that having had moussaka in Greece two years ago. We had two separate flatbreads for appetizers and the six of us made them disappear quickly; soft, great toppings. I was suppose to share a piece of chocolate cake for dessert with my wife but all I could eat was a forkful, I was too full and the cake was too sinful. read more

They've placed febreeze-like devices in the restaurant, the smell of which overpowers all other odors in the restaurant. This is an automatic faux-pas, I want to smell the food, the kitchen not this artificial odor. Food quality has also decreased; the lahmajun barely had any meat or toppings on it. Service was lackluster. It's too bad, we used to really like this place. read more

The Best service and of course the best kabab in DMV area , Everything was so good , Thank you so much to Amed and Chef Mehmet, No matter how full you are don't forget to eat Kunefe :) read more

Yayla Bistro - Mix Grilled Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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