On our first visit to Istanbul, we had a wonderful experience. The servers were so helpful to explain the different entrees. They gave suggestions and recommendations. I've had falafels before but the ones at Istanbul is so much better! We would definitely need to go back and try other entrees.

We were looking for something different and somewhere we hadn't been to in a while and remembered Istanbul! It turned out to be a very nice, delicious, and satisfying dinner. We started off with the Summer Truffle Taramasalata. A flavorful dip with lots of caviar that goes so well with their pita bread. There was so much dip we had an extra order of pita bread. This dip was also better than any hummus and babaganous I've had. We then had the Lamb Tenderloin Shish. It's very tasty, and since I'm a lamb lover, I thoroughly enjoyed it. For dessert, we had the Antep Baklava. What a great combination, their crispy, sweet baklava, Hawaiian honey, and pistachio ice cream. Excellent! The service was unbelievable fast. It was faster than some fast food places I've been to. Also, servers were very courteous and attentive. I've always dined outdoors and it's very nice. Although you're along the street, you're elevated and surrounded by nice, new developments. It is very comfortable and an overall pleasant dining experience!

Istanbul was a pleasantly different experience. To start off, their menu is extremely complicating to read. However, our waitress had broken it down for us which was helpful. Food: -Meze Platter: 7/10 it was good but not amazing. -Lamb and beef pita wrap: 9/10 the tzatziki sauce complimented it so well and the wrap was juicy and delicious. Our waitress offered to have it cut in half so we could share it. -Hatay Kunefe: 8/10 the first few bites were extraordinary. The honey compliments the dessert so well. However, it was hard to eat all of it because the cheesiness may get to you. Pretty pricey for the food but a great experience.

If you're ever feeling adventurous for some Mediterranean food then I highly recommend this spot. The menu was very authentic because it had me googling what certain words meant and dishes were. I also really loved the decor of this place from the walls to silverware. Parking isn't hard to find; you can park at the Whole Foods or Nordstrom Rack across the street. There is indoor and outdoor seating (sometimes it can get a little windy). We shared the Mezze Platter which came with pita bread, hummus, roasted red pepper dip, smoked eggplant dip, spanakopita, and a palate cleanser (watermelon, feta cheese, strawberry, and olive in balsamic drizzle). Make sure to ask for extra pita because you will definitely need more. For my entree, I had the Baba's Kofte (aged prime rib, saffron rice, salad, and tzatziki sauce) and it was cooked perfectly and paired really well with the tzatziki sauce. It was a little pricey, but the portion was huge and really filling. The drinks were also pretty good. Service was great, we got seated right away and our waiter was attentive and patient all night. Will definitely come back again!

I am a big fan of any coffee I enjoyed turkey coffee alot. Everything else was just perfect. I came here a few times and all staff were sweet and friendly everytime. And the ambience 10 out of 10.

Istanbul is delicious, their staff are always on, and the vibe is perfect for any number of events. I've been once before with family on a weekday and it was very lowkey at opening time for dinner at 5PM. It was very relaxed and food came out rather quickly! Which we of course appreciated. I went to Istanbul last night, a Saturday night at 7:30PM. We had a reservation at 8PM but we got there early as we were very hungry (haha), and although they didn't have our table ready just yet they were able to seat us at the bar which was great!! The bar is so pretty and I've always felt bar seating is better because you get more personal and potentially quicker service. The bartender was SO nice and so helpful; very personable and had great recommendations. I wish I got her name! But this was Saturday night, 6/22 at 7:30PM! She deserves a raise or a gift card or something. We got the babaganush with pita appetizer, the chicken shish, and the baba's kofte. The babaganush is probably the best I've had, it's very smooth chilled and the pita is warm and perfect to dip in it. Our entrees come with their rice and a salad and a tzatziki sauce to dip which was such a perfect side. Our drinks were also perfectly crafted and the flatware is just so pretty, I took so many pictures of everything. Please do yourself a favor and come dine here whether it's with family, for date night, a celebration, even alone! It's very friendly in all aspects. We will (obviously) be back!

Pricey but delicious Mediterranean food. This place is always busy for good reason, and we find ourselves coming back relatively frequently. I always get the eggplant dish which comes with a side of rice in a cute mini le creuset pot. We usually come for lunch, but the other day we came for dinner and I shared the eggplant and the octopus with my mom and we couldn't decide which was better! You also have to get the hatay kunefe dessert, it's sweet and savory and so addictive.

My sister-in-law chose Istanbul Hawaii to celebrate her 1st birthday here in Hawaii. I'm glad that she did. I've been wanting to try it for the longest time. My curiosity of the restaurant has been satisfied. I felt somewhat warm when I walked in. I like the wooden table and chairs with soft pillows. The light fixtures and other decorative kitchen added a nice touch. Our server, Landis, was nice and friendly. She recommended some dishes that a few of us decided to try. I like that she's checked in with us a few times to see how we're doing and if we needed anything. The portions are both small and big. For those that were small portions like the fish of the day, I wished they made more while the bigger portion like the Meza Platter, I wished it was a little less. We ordered the following for appetizers: - Meza Platter: humus, muhammara, water borek, baba ghanoush, peynir & karpuz, pita - Mercimek Soup: red lentil soup, pita - Crispy Reef Squid - Dolma: pine nuts, sour cherry, black currant, arborio rice, Ho farm tomato, tzatziki, pita, served chilled We tried for our main dishes: - Beef Shish: aged usda prime, Mediterranean salata, crème fraîche, tzatziki, saffron pilav - A5 Wagyu & Perigord Truffle Manti: - Daily Fish Auction Sous-Vide Market Catch: sea bass, fennel dust, sumac, pistachios, citrus, ma'o farms greens medley, saffron pilav - Chicken Tenderloin Shish: organic Mediterranean salata, crème fraîche tzatziki, saffron pilav - Maras Pepper Kauai Shrimp: fresh shrimp with garlic confit, meyer lemon, Mediterranean salata, saffron pilav - Lamb Tenderloin Shish: grass fed lamb, Mediterranean salata, saffron pilav, crème fraîche tzatziki - Kula Lavender-Infused Duck Breast: organic marjoram, organic cacao, Wailuku all spice, rare Hawaiian honey, persimmon brûlée, saffron pilav And for dessert a simple Classic Kahve with Turkish Delight. It was sweet and delightful! For everything we ate, our total came out to $956.23 before tips were added. That's my hint to bring an extra wallet ;) It's definitely a bit pricey but I have enjoyed their beef Shish the most. The flavors perfectly hit the spot for me. I highly recommend to make a reservation if you want to check them out. Parking is free but limited and it's in the same building. If not, park by Nordstrom/TJ Maxx. It's the closest parking for the restaurant. Thank you for reading my review. Have a blessed day!

Nice airy setting with bright decor and a bunch of seating inside and on the walkway outside. Easy parking in the free Ward Village lots. Pricy, especially for lunch takeout. The best falafel I've had in Hawaii, although there's admittedly not a lot of competition. The pita was very good. The pita wrap overall was a bit dry. The lettuce was nice and crunchy, there could have been more tomato. The hibiscus lychee ice tee was more like a pink medicine or Pedialyte than iced tea, unless the hibiscus itself was the tea base--I was expecting an infused black tea, which it was not. I'd pass on that next time. Easy online ordering with food ready in a quick 20 minutes or so.