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Cafe Istanbul, Chicago, IL

Cafe Istanbul

4.7
4.7
277 Reviews
$30 and under
Turkish

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood 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!

Additional information

What 277 people are saying

Cafe Istanbul reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 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.

277 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    1.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 1
    Well, I reserved a table for 6:45pm and I confirmed that twice, so my friend and I had to wait for 30mins and we were so disappointed about that…

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Denver2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Went at 8 on a Friday night. Restaurant was packed. Lively environment but that was expected. Despite how crowded it was, service was surprisingly attentive. Certain dishes were overpriced, but all of them were good quality. The best dish of the meal was the Beyti Kebab. Will definitely be back

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  3. Hallie

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    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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  4. OpenTable Diner

    RP1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 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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  5. Sheldon VIP

    Indiana13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 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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  6. Emily

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 26, 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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  7. Andrew VIP

    Chicago104 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 19, 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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  8. Natsumi

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 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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  9. Teodor

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 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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  10. Patricia

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 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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FAQs

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

Cafe Istanbul is rated 4.7 stars by 277 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 22 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 am–10:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive chef
    Mustafa Guler
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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