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Cafe Istanbul Info
Amenities
Service options
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Outdoor seating
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No-contact delivery
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Delivery
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Fast service
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Great coffee
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Great dessert
Popular for
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Alcohol
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Beer
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Cocktails
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Coffee
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Comfort food
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Halal food
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Hard liquor
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Healthy options
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Organic dishes
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Small plates
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Vegetarian options
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Wine
Dining options
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Breakfast
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Brunch
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Bar onsite
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Restroom
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
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Romantic
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Trendy
Crowd
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Groups
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LGBTQ+ friendly
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Tourists
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Transgender safespace
Planning
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Accepts reservations
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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Good for kids
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High chairs
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Kids' menu
Parking
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Free parking lot
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Parking
Pets
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Dogs allowed outside
Other
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LGBTQ+ friendly
Best WLM Reviews
Had a great experience at this place. Service was friendly. We felt very welcome and the wait staff went above and beyond even though it was very busy for a week night.
Food was delicious! I got the eggplant dish and it was light and tasty with the right mix of spices. The baklava was heavenly! I've eaten better tasting Turkish food but overall experience was outstanding.
Takes credit card, will charge 3% service fee.
Has a full bar
Has inside and outside patio
The inside is well decorated and beautiful plate settings. Great for dates, or regular dinner with the family.
This was my first time having Turkish food so I had no expectations. And the food was so delicious. I appreciate the waiter giving me some education on Turkish food.
The opening bread and dip- it's like sliced carrots, with mayo. Very nice opener to the meal.
Eres beer ($7)- the most popular beer in Turkey. I really liked it, like a less bitter Stella Artois.
Lahmancan ($11)- it's like a pizza but instead uses flat bread. It has minced meat on top.
Iskender ($27)- this was the star of the meal. Get this! The meat was sliced thinly, had texture, soft enough to enjoy but cooked enough for flavor. Seasoned perfectly. It's served over bread coated in tomato bisque. The yogurt on the side was a great compliment to add to the coolness.
Kuzu sis ($25)
I initially wanted the kag kebab which I heard was amazing. The waiter said today's portion was more fatty than normal, so recommended this. The lamb was perfectly cooked. I would've liked some more seasoning on it. I appreciate grilled vegetables it came with.
kazandibi (Turkish flan)- this was served with scoop of vanilla on top. Surprisingly good, not too sweet, a little burned on the top like a cremebrulee. If you want dessert, get this to share!
I would definitely come back. It has components of Mediterranean food but with better flavor.
We came to celebrate the birthday of my sister. Food is the most delicious l, service is fantastic. We loved the atmosphere , stuff is super friendly. Thank you for server Emir, his service was brilliant. We had a complementary cake for birthday.
The restaurant smells delicious upon entry. When it comes to hummus, they know what they are doing. I wouldn’t recommend the salmon carpaccio however. It is more of a salmon tartar, by presentation and by ingredients. It is overly fatty and needs sometime to cut through the it, make it more refreshing. Their lamb is top notch and the Turkish Delight is perfect for hummus + veggie lovers! Service is great.
Been wanting to go here forever, especially since Chicago has few Turkish restaurants. Wow! They have a special coal-fired grill for spit-roasted lamb and there’s only one other place in the US that has one.
Highly recommend the Turkish flan, it had an incredible char on it. Will definitely be back.
Very good semi authentic Turkish food. Meaning majority is Turkish dishes but few dishes were euroTurk. The service was very punctual. I would go back there again. Love the lentil soup and lahmcun. As for desert two thumbs up for baklava. Of course, cup of tea compliments the desert. For main dishes, you can’t go wrong with kabobs or Eggplant dish
It is one of the best Turkish restaurants in the Chicago area. The quality, taste, and service are excellent ???? for years, and nothing has changed. Romantic, clean restaurant atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food. I highly recommend Cafe Istanbul if you're craving delicious Turkish cuisine. Beyti, Iskender, and Lahmacun are some of my favorites. A mixed dessert plate is unbeatable. It's a must to try.
Amazing food, cozy dining area. There were so many different things on the menu that looked amazing, will be visiting again to try out other dishes
Quick Facts About Cafe Istanbul
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
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