Kebabs & other Turkish-Mediterranean dishes served in a warm restaurant setting with a bar.
At a glance
#1 of 5 Wine bars in San Francisco #2 of 10 Turkish restaurants in San FranciscoLocalGuideWorld score: 4.49
Rating breakdown
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5 ★65%
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4 ★23%
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3 ★8%
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2 ★1%
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1 ★2%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Kitchen Istanbul?
- Kitchen Istanbul is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 353 reviews.
- How does Kitchen Istanbul rank in San Francisco?
- Kitchen Istanbul is #1 of 5 Wine bars in San Francisco by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Kitchen Istanbul located?
- 349 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States — 4.5 km from the center of San Francisco.
- How can I contact Kitchen Istanbul?
- Phone: +1 415-753-9479 · Website: kitchenistanbulsf.com
The food was good but probably overpriced. Moussaka was good but made with hamburger, not lamb or even braised beef. Might have caught them on an off day. Salmon kebabs were cooked nicely but just two little kebabs, maybe 4 ounces of salmon. With 20 percent tip that was 85 bucks.
The service is great here. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The food was generally pretty good. Definitely highlights were the spread, the feta cheese cigars and the kunefe. The meatballs were tasty but a bit firm. While overall the food was fine, the portions were definitely on the small side. The moussaka was listed as an Entrée but the size is what you would expect as an appetizer. If I ordered that as my Entrée I would not have been full. In general even the apps weren't particularly big. So ends up being quite pricey for the amount of food you get. Had a good experience here and food was tasty but for me it was a bit overpriced for the amount of food.
This place was absolutely amazing! Dined here for the first time with my girlfriend and we shared the following...
Lentil Soup
Roasted Cauliflower
Arugula Salad
Pan fried Shrimp with Shishito Peppers
Salmon Kabobs
Chocolate pot dé creme
Kunefe
Turkish Coffee
Everything was wonderful, and the big standouts for me were...the arugula salad with Turkish apricots dusted sumac and a pomegranate glaze... the flavors were so unique and delicious! The pan fried shrimp had a little kick but was cooked perfectly and served with shishito peppers on the side in a chili oil. The salmon kebabs were so moist and again so flavorful...one of the better kabobs I've had in a very long time!
Lentil Soup
Roasted Cauliflower
Arugula Salad
Pan fried Shrimp with Shishito Peppers
Salmon Kabobs
Chocolate pot dé creme
Kunefe
Turkish Coffee
Everything was wonderful, and the big standouts for me were...the arugula salad with Turkish apricots dusted sumac and a pomegranate glaze... the flavors were so unique and delicious! The pan fried shrimp had a little kick but was cooked perfectly and served with shishito peppers on the side in a chili oil. The salmon kebabs were so moist and again so flavorful...one of the better kabobs I've had in a very long time!
Awesome appetizers! Hummus is thick and flavorful, pita bread was so fresh and steaming. Appetizers definitely beat entrees.
Great selection of wine as well.
While this place does cary Turkish flavors it is California influenced, and I like that a lot.
Great selection of wine as well.
While this place does cary Turkish flavors it is California influenced, and I like that a lot.
Fantastic dinner!! Dishes are excellent! The menu is constantly updated. Braised beef with Smoked Eggplant Puree it was so tender it melted in mouth. Chicken in almond sauce was incredible. And of course Mega healthy lentil soup. Thank you so much!!!
Cute venue and music with quality service. For appetizer, we ordered feta cheese cigars (very delicious) and zucchini fritters (very flavorful)--both pictured. We ordered 2 moussaka veggie and beef (not pictured), braised beef, and lamb loin kebabs. From the moussaka's the veggie was slightly more flavorful and more cheesey. Comparing the braised beef vs lamb loin kebab...could not decide as both are great in their own way, so order both and share. Kunefe is also fantastic--soft, cheesey, and sweet. Definitely would come back again.
I especially liked the moussaka! It was super tasty! The service is good except they close kind of early. Maybe cause I was there on a Wednesday. By 9:30, they were already wrapping up for the night. I wouldn't mind get another drink or two with my friend. Overall, good experience.
Wow, how have I not reviewed this place? I *really* like Kitchen Istanbul. I feel sorry for those poor people waiting in line for over an hour at Burma Superstar, when they could be having incredible food right here, two doors down. Granted, they're totally different cuisines and Kitchen Istanbul is a bit more upscale, but this place doesn't waste your time and the staff treats you extremely well and you get to experience a fabulous meal. The crispy spiced brussels sprouts are the best I have had anywhere in the city, bar none. GET THEM. The meatballs and lamb moussaka are also delicious and well worth ordering. The zucchini fritters were incredibly good. To top it off, their wine list is excellent, with unusual selections from places you don't normally see, like Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece. A winning combination!
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