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Cafe Istanbul, Chicago, IL

Cafe Istanbul

4.7
4.7
274 Reviews
$30 and under
Turkish

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2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
In the heart of Chicago, there's a charming place known as the Istanbul Café, owned and run by Mustafa Guler. With more than 15 years of culinary experience in Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, he brings the flavors of Turkey to the Windy City.

For over six years, Chicago residents have flocked to Istanbul Café for delicious, authentic Turkish cuisine. From mouthwatering kebabs to flavorful mezze, each dish is a testament to Mustafa's culinary expertise.

What set Istanbul Café apart was not just its special wines, homemade baklava, or Mustafa's culinary expertise, but a secret treasure hidden within its menu - the "Cag Kebab." This special dish from Turkey's Erzurum region, and you won't find it anywhere else in the city.

From the talented chefs to the friendly servers, they ensure every visit to Istanbul Café is special. Here, we serve you not just with food but with passion! Come and savor Turkey's essence in the heart of Chicago!
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

What 274 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Istanbul delights with "delicious and authentic Turkish cuisine" and "friendly, attentive service." Diners rave about the "amazing cag kebab," "outstanding lamb dishes," and "heavenly complimentary bread." The atmosphere is "inviting" and "charming," making it perfect for any occasion. A "hidden gem" for flavorful Mediterranean experiences.

274 Reviews
  1. Hallie

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Got the grilled octopus and it was fire. Also got the smoked eggplant dip, stellar. Lastly, a delicious light salad. All was excellent.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    RP1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 1 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful place that reminded me of being overseas. Just a great experience, you should go!

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  3. Sheldon VIP

    Indiana13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was the first time at Cafe Istanbul. Starting out we were struggling to find street parking and the realized they have free parking in a lot for there restaurant! Which is rare for the city. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was very good. Our table had the onion soup and Lentil soups. Both were great. The eggplant appetizer was the waitress’s favorite and soon became ours as well. We had the half chicken and the lamb kabobs. The flavors were wonderful. We look forward to coming back soon.

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  4. Emily

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 26 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a wonderful experience at Cafe Istanbul! Highly recommend, and will be back soon!

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  5. Andrew VIP

    Chicago104 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Turkish food outside of Turkey. My fav place for lunch or dinner.

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  6. Natsumi

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, kind people, big portions. One of my favorites.

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  7. Teodor

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, delicious food, many options for vegetarians and carnivores. Authentic Turkish food at its best! There is something for everyone. Recommend highly!

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  8. Patricia

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a party of nine for a birthday lunch. I chose the restaurant because I wanted to eat family style. Our waiter recomemded the shepards salad and feta salad. Both delicious! The main dish was a meat platter that was phenomonal! We also ordered the calamai, octopus, zuchinni and egg plant also. All highly recomended. Great restaurant for a celebration! Would go back again.

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  9. Tania

    Chicago2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    I came here with my parents. We loved everything, the salads are delicious, the octopus is tender and the lamb chops, dessert. Everything. Service was slow, the staff is friendly but we had to continue flagging someone dow to come take our order. At the end I had to get up to pay my bill because none would come over to our table.

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  10. Amelia

    Washington DC3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Favorite restaurant in the area 🧡 amazing portions for the price and the staff is so friendly. Consistently great.

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FAQs

Cafe Istanbul offers delivery in partnership with Chow Now. Cafe Istanbul also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (773) 661-9487.

Cafe Istanbul is rated 4.7 stars by 274 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Cafe Istanbul

2014 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622-3154

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Turkish, Mediterranean
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Sat 11:00–22:00 Sun 09:00–22:00
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive Chef
    Mustafa Guler
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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