Super far from our hotel since it was on the Asia side of Istanbul. Took a 25 min cab ride during…read morethe daytime to get here and it was totally worth it!! It opened at 12pm and we got there at 1030am oops so we walked around and came back at 12. We came mostly due to mark weins recommendation on his YouTube channel. Service: super friendly and attentive! There was definitely a language barrier but it was still super nice and could tell by there body language that they mean well Food: -Black salmon in olive oil, butter, Herbs & spices -10/10!! This was what mark weins got and it was so good! Came out on a sizzling hot plate and it was full of flavor. Sooo delicious. This is what made the whole trip to the Asia side worth it -random selection of fish- was pretty good but we didn't know what we were choosing! Was a little fishy for me but hubby liked it ! -salad-mostly because we needed some veggies! Was simple and complimented the salmon well! The whole meal costed us $26! Comes with a cute little desert and Turkish tea at the end Highly recommend !

I was watching some of Mark Wien's vlogs in preparation for a family vacation to Istanbul and knew…read morebased on his reactions at the food here that I had to give it a try. My family is a bunch of seafood fanatics so I was really hoping it would live up to expectations, and it absolutely did. We loved it so much that we came straight back again the next day, even though it was quite far from where we were staying and a ferry ride was involved to get there! This is a small restaurant off a little side street in Kadikoy, quite serene and away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. The service was lovely, there's definitely a language barrier if you only speak English but nothing too bad. They'll take you inside to their refrigerated case of fresh fish and point out what's what, and how it can be prepared. Different types of fish can be braised, grilled, or fried. We tried a few different things: Fish Soup: nice and light with a predominant flavor of dill. goes great with some crusty bread. Fried mackerel: a little too fishy for me, but my parents were fans of this. Fried sardine: really yummy, a bit milder than the mackerel and really soft. With a squeeze of lemon and a shake of salt, it was delicious. Grilled fish - this was a whole fish, grilled to perfection (can't remember what kind it was exactly but it was nice and flaky) Braised black salmon with peppers and onions: so good, this is what I'd seen on Mark Wiens's blog and I was not disappointed, it comes out sizzling and the fish is incredibly soft and flavorful. Make sure to sop up all the butter with the bread! Fish Kofte, grilled: My personal FAVORITE - you must get this. Perfectly seasoned fish cakes that take on a beautiful char on the grill. Best bite of both nights for sure, we ordered it both days we were there! They bring out some bread and two dips (red pepper and eggplant) that go well with everything, along with a large simply dressed salad to add some veggies to the meal. They'll also bring out dessert and tea on the house at the end of the meal, very nice touch! It's incredibly affordable (about $7-$9 per dish) and incredibly delicious. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for good seafood in Istanbul/Kadikoy.

Inside Novotel Hotel, good choice of buffet or Ala cart, reasonable prices and good service. Food…read morequality is good and taste is good but not outstanding

I could not recommend this place. They were nice enough, but my eggs were cooked with an astounding…read moreamount of oil. They were swimming in it. When I took a bite, oil actually dripped on my clothes. I prefer to stick with the traditional boiled egg, & will definitely do that from now on.

Good in the area of local people's live. I have been this restaurant 2 times during my vacation. I…read morelike bouth the food. Atmosphere are very poor. Table are very bed you should keep you table when you eat cause it move.

Found this gem of a place on Happy Cow after spending a few days in Istanbul. Turkey is a pretty…read moremeat heavy culture, but you can seek out some good veggies places. This is one of them. It is a little hole in the wall place, but they serve up a traditional flavorful dish a bit like seitan basically. You can get it in a wrap and if you are staying somewhere can take a box home for fairly cheap. Also be sure to check out nearby Parsifal. This is a simple sit down affordable place that is 100 percent vegetarian and has many vegan options. The menu labels what is vegetarian and what is vegan making ordering easy.

Zencefil which means "ginger" in English is located Istiklal street area and it is one of the few…read morevegetarian restaurants in Istanbul. I have been going to Zencefil for years but last time I was there was about 4-5 years ago. The restaurants has been keeping its style, quality for many years. Even the menu looks like the same except for a few new dishes depending on the season. There are several kinds of vegetable quiches such as eggplant, spinach, etc. The nice think is that before the meal they serve butter mixed with herbs accompanied with bread. There were two kinds of bread; with corn flour and whole wheat. However, the bread could be better, I didn't like the whole wheat bread. I can make batter breads and I am wondering why they do not make their own bread adding different kinds of herbs and vegetables. Although it is a vegetarian restaurant, there one or two chicken dishes on the menu. Since there wasn't so much change on the menu for years, I have already tried most dishes which were OK. I mean the tastes are nice, not heavenly but you know that all of them are healthy. This time I had warm served Aegean stew made of artichokes, faba beans and black-eyed beans. It was so light and tasty, I really like it. I had homemade ginger ale for a drink but frankly saying I didn't like it maybe because I am used to Canadian dry or other brands. But I recommend its lemonade with ginger. I hope they add more experimental vegetable recipes on the menu next time. At the end of the meal they always serve coriander and some dry herb to refreshen the breath which I really like. Lastly, the ambiance is nice, bright, colorful and the place is mostly full of young people and tourists during lunch hours. The service is not bad but I wish they smile more...

I ate here about 5 years ago while working in a cruise ship that was docked overnight in Istanbul…read more The food was delish and I still tell people about my dining experience years later. The restaurant owner still sends Christmas cards to my home in Vermont every year. Absolutely love them, I would go back!

We dined here tonight at the recommendation of Food Blogger Katie Parla. Glad we did. Best food…read morewe've had in Istanbul. Best service we've had at any restaurant in a long time. It was quiet tonight and romantic for our second honeymoon trip, off a back road from the main Istikal Caddisi. Not crammed full of tourists with generic menus like many places. If we're lucky enough to come back to Istanbul, we will surely come back to this establishment!!!

Casual hookah café adjacent to their restaurant of the same name with a shared kitchen. Wraps,…read moresandwiches, and pastas are on the menu (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-han-istanbul?select=ucBJVevSk1RYVVRFH2Dm_g#VuN4q2e7gkbdrZx_Su8Jpw). We got a dürüm döner, gözleme with spinach, fries, and some Turkish coffee. The dürüm döner was large spanning the entire plate (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-han-istanbul?select=ucBJVevSk1RYVVRFH2Dm_g#FVl4VcIfQ1xQuJX7ARPozA), though the top third was just the lavash. The meat was juicy and flavorful and I liked the addition of pickles in the fillings (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-han-istanbul?select=ucBJVevSk1RYVVRFH2Dm_g#taTWGDiIk1Utc2SukkWtOg) Gözleme is like a Turkish quesadilla with thin dough filled with different toppings, then folded over and griddled (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-han-istanbul?select=ucBJVevSk1RYVVRFH2Dm_g#Z1N52wOGuPiCYyaaIKi2gQ). This was generously sized and had a good balance of spinach and cheese. Fries came dusted with some black pepper and were nice and crisp with a creamy center (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-han-istanbul?select=ucBJVevSk1RYVVRFH2Dm_g#F6IQUC6ww-QkD3fNBR8MvQ). The servers were friendly and attentive. A good place for a cheap and quick meal.

Istanbul was love not just because of the history and architecture but most importantly for its…read morefood. The sweets and savory both are on point. You can actually go to a hole in the wall and get the best kababs or baklava or halwas every eatery is a sheer joy. So this is one of the best places for a kababfest all over Yelp, YouTube influencers backing that and also the most recommended place on internet based reviews. We chose a non busy time it wasn't that packed. This restaurant is not compact but definitely crowded in the sense that tables are very close to one another. The staff is extremely polite, helpful and friendly. We ordered a little bit of everything including liver. Each item was bursting of flavor and the meat used was top notch quality. Price point isn't bad. Do google the menu with pricing and these change quite often in places like Turkey which is a tourist hub. We paid with credit card no issues. The food came out piping hot and within reasonable grilling time. Definitely recommend this place it's a haven for meat lovers I can't wait to go back this is a solid 5 on 5 for me.

In Istanbul, Turkey on a food tour with Culinary Backstreet. It was a fabulous trip. Our next to…read morefinal night, we were treated to an interactive dining feast at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. This place is preformance art. We were seating at the pit master's table side. The chef is an amazing cog that makes this restaurant thrive with delicious meats. Tonight, we did not order food but were served by the pit master and his favorite creations. We dined on liver skewers with lamb tail fat, grilled garlic, lamb chops, kebobs, grilled onions, spicy breads, grilled peppers, and grilled tomatoes. It was entertaining, warm and completely interactive. The mezzes were also delicious but one has to be cautious not to load up on the salads. I cannot convey just how much fun it was to sit table side tonight. As engaging as the pit master was, his cooking skills are second to none with respect to his grill. If you are headed to Istanbul and looking for a new adventure with scrumptious grilled food, get reservations at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. The environment is engaging, light and just plain fun. I tip my hat to the restaurant, the pit master and to our tour guide for making this evening memorable.

Walking around Istanbul and needing an authentic dinner place....i, of course, turned to yelp for…read morehelp! Found this place close by with ravishing reviews, so why not. Get there and easily seated. Small place but people were constantly going in and out and place was buzzing with tourist and locals alike. Menu properly labelled with prices so not a tourist trap. Sat down and ordered the lamb chops and the Adana kebabs (minced meat). Both dishes outstanding. The lamb chops were the best I've ever had. Grilled just right to perfection. Seasoned well with Turkish spices and meat was juicy. The kebabs were the same. Juicy and succulent and perfectly seasoned. Came with complimentary lavash and spicy hummus dip and some pickled veggies. Service quick and portion sizes just right. When in Istanbul, a must try for sure. Cheers! Happy eating!

I was going to try the turkey lamb chop. So I pick a restaurant close to grand plaza. It was close…read moreto the tram station. There are four chops in the set. The chop was pan fried to almost well. I am guessing they don't ask about the temperature. Overall the food is good. The meat here is a bit tougher than the United State. They are likely seasoned. The meal comes with grilled pepper, tomato and turkey blow bread.