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Cafe Istanbul, Chicago, IL

Cafe Istanbul

4.8
4.8
254 Reviews
$30 and under
Turkish

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
  • 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!

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • 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
  • Phone number
    (773) 661-9487
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Mustafa Guler
  • Catering
    2014 W Division St Chicago Illinois,
  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 254 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Healthy

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Neighborhood gem

  • Chicago

    Healthy

  • Chicago

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Istanbul offers "amazing food" with standout dishes like cag kabob and lahmacun. The friendly staff, especially Emir, provide excellent service. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere with authentic Turkish flavors. While some found the pricing unexpected, most agree it's a delightful dining experience with "great food" and "delicious Mediterranean" options.

254 Reviews
  1. Dana

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We just returned from Istanbul, Türkiye and were craving some authentic Turkish food. So happy to have found CAFE ISTANBUL! The pade was delicious as was the chef’s mixed grill. The wine our waitress suggested was excellent! Friendly staff, great food, nice neighborhood — we’ll be back!

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  2. Molli

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe Istanbul always takes great care of us. I love the wait staff and how kind they are. They also work as a team, with great sense of urgency for their guests. The food is always top tier and never disappoints. I love taking fiends who visit me here because i can count on having a great experience.

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  3. Julie

    VIP

    Chicago

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous service, great recommendations, delicious food.

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  4. ROB

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great little restaurant. Authentic Turkish food with fantastic service.

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  5. Angela

    VIP

    Chicago

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice neighborhood gem. Authentic mediterranean food. Quiet. Pricey for a neighborhood spot. For four people, our tab was almost $50/person but only two of us had drinks.

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  6. Andrew

    Louisville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 26, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hard to explain how good is it. Just go and try. Can’t be disappointed.

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  7. Marc

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    On of my top 5 go to spots in Chicago. Always take people that visit us from out town there.

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  8. Emily

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Huge portions and great food! A new neighborhood favorite!

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  9. Jonathan

    Chicago

    45 reviews

    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The Lahmacun, Turkish bread and eggplant dip are delish. For dinner I had the Çöp şiş, or lamb kebabs, tender, juicy and delicicious with rice and veggies. For dessert, I tried the Kataifi with ice cream. Also a sweet treat that was tasty. Overall the service was good, and not too attentive. I highly recommend for folks who like a genuine Turkish meal, good service, and a nice, friendly atmosphere.

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  10. April

    VIP

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was wonderful as always. Lahmacun and mucver are must tries. Service was exceptional. Cafe Istanbul never disappoints.

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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 4.8 stars by 254 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Cafe Istanbul

2014 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622-3154

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Turkish, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive chef
    Mustafa Guler
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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