Self-described as a purveryor of fireside cuisine, restaurant Ali Ocakbasi offers a slightly elevated presentation of classic Anatolian cuisine with a modern personality, with an emphasis on grilled meat and fish. All their locations, in Istanbul’s most iconic neighborhoods, are tastefully decorated and boast areas for open air dining with fantastic views of the Bosphorus or Golden Horn.
Fireroom is Istanbul’s best choice for Western pop-food favorites, with burgers, big gourmet hot dogs and tacos topping the list. The restaurant is a fast-casual format. Order at the counter and enjoy your meal in a trendy, industrial décor targeting a younger crowd.
Hopdaddy is a small fast-casual restaurant with several locations in Istanbul offering a very good burger at better than reasonable price, about half of what you’d pay for the gourmet burger at Nusr-et or Saltbae.
A mix of western and middle eastern cuisine, including a wide variety of popular western breakfast items make The House Café, with multiple locations in Istanbul, a popular dining haunt with both locals and visitors to Istanbul. The location in Ortakoy overlooking the Bosporus has a delightful view morning, noon, and night.
Turkish chef, Nusret Gökçe, turned his Turkish-based steakhouse, Nusr-et, into an international restaurant dynasty with locations from Dubai to London. The steaks are pricey, but undoubtedly the best bet for a slab of grilled beef in Istanbul. The décor in all of the locations is upscale. The restaurant in closest proximity to major hotels is the restaurant inside the city’s central grand bazaar, the Kapali Çarsi.
Mexican food in Turkey? You bet. And our Texas-born reviewer who is an expert on Tex-Mex cuisine, says Ranchero got it right. This restaurant is dead ringer for any of the hundreds of Tex-Mex restaurants you can find in the Lone Star state.