Kitchen Istanbul
Where the exotic centuries-old recipes meet with local ingredients to transform into unforgettable flavors that will make you come back for more. Owner and executive chef Emrah Kilicoglu pays close attention to what goes in the kitchen as well as on the restaurant floor. He personally visits each table to make sure that the customers get the ultimate Turkish dining experience where the customer is treated as a guest in his house.
Mr. Kilicoglu is not new to the San Francisco gastronomic scene: since March, 2012 he was the co-owner of Troya Clement and contributed to becoming a stable among Turkish restaurants in the Bay Area. He carefully crafted Kitchen Istanbul's menu to incorporate lots of traditional mezes (Turkish style appetizers), each with a distinct kick to represent a specific region in the Mediterranean area. Just a look at the main dishes will make your mouth water, no matter if you are a meat lover or a veggie lover.
Safety precautions
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep cleaned daily
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff temperature check required
- Diner temperature check required
First time eating at Kitchen Istanbul. Service was excellent and the food was as well. The veggie moussaka was perfect and just the right portion.
My cousin was thrilled with her birthday lunch that had all her favorites: trio of hummus, feta cheese fingers, grilled houllami, arugula and apricot salad, and chocolate mousse. All presented beautifully and delicious!
One of the most exquisite and delicious experiences in San Francisco right now. The food is consistently impeccable and there is something for everyone on the wine list. Highly recommend for locals and visitors.
Outstanding.
Fantastic food. Attentive staff. A little pricey--not horrific for San Francisco. The evening ended on a less that happy note when I discovered that Open Table allowed all of my dining points to expire in the middle of the Pandemic. Churlish!
This is a neighborhood and also Turkish GEM and I cannot wait to return! Having recenty returned from a trip to Istanbul, I am continously on the search for "anything Turkish" in San Francisco, especially food! When I received a birthday gift certificate to Kitchen Istanbul, I could not WAIT to try it. I was thrilled by the ambiance, the food and the exquisite service. It was the perfect place to go with out of town guests I hadn't seen in quite some time. The food is very flavorful and unique. I seriously cannot wait to go back!
During the pandemic, whenever I passed by Kitchen Istanbul, I was sad thinking if this restaurant wouldn’t survive we’d lose the best restaurant in the city. They not only survived, but came back with exactly the same quality of food I used to love pre-pandemic. I also really appreciate their always friendly staff. Much love to Kitchen Istanbul!
Every dish we tried was beautifully prepared, seasoned, and presented. The fried halloumi cheese with paprika had a fantastic texture, the moussaka was delightfully savory, the lamb chops were perfection, and the kenufe that we had for dessert was out of this world. While the meal was on the pricey side, it was really excellent.
Delicious food, extensive wine list. Do not miss out on the zucchini fritters and bulgur salad. Lamb chops were exceptional as well. They served a fantastic kunefe.
I love this place! The ambiance of the wine bar is great, and the food is delicious.
Restaurant and owner are the best. Amazing food, service and ambiance!!
Excellent food in a well simple well designed modern dining room with an extraordinary wine list.
We came last week and couldn’t wait to come back. So that’s what we did. Everything everyone says in the reviews is spot on. The food is delicious!! The wine list is special! Everyone who works here is so lovely and the owner (also the wine guru) is fantastic! So much thought was put into everything.
My new favorite restaurant.
My girlfriend and I had a lovely dinner. Service was quick and the food delicious.
I love this place! The food is delicious, the staff is lovely and you feel like you traveled to Turkey when you see there. I highly recommend it!
Excellent food and great wine selection. Neighborhood gem. Also appreciate the quality sourced produce and meats.
The lamb chops were perfectly cooked and it came with mashed potatoes that I really enjoyed, the food seemed fragrant, my wife had the braised beef and eggplant also tasted very good, the atmosphere was just right, enough noise to know that everyone was enjoying the experience, service was also great, I will come again if I have a taste for Mediterranean cuisine
This food is excellent. A real gem. A benefit was the easy parking.
Fabulous food, attentive service, amazing wine list. Love the casual yet special neighbourhood vibe. Check it out!
Awesome neighborhood spot with delicious and authentic Turkish food plus a stellar wine selection.
Sweet little neighborhood spot with great food, big wine list and attentive service.
Amazing. Loaded up on appetizers
Amazing service, food, and wine! Would go again without question.
Excellent dishes and service. I wish they had more Turkish wines but they have so many others.
This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. We're so happy they are now open for dining in.
We loved this spot. It was a very special night for us.
Great food and service. Very good value. Food was well paced and very good wine choices. It is a good neighborhood option. Will come again, so happy they made it through COVID and are still as good as always.
Great attentive, pleasant, interactive service. Lamb Kabobs were tender, moussaka to die for.
Great service. Delicious food. Nice wine selection.
Superb food and hospitality. One of the most impressive wine list I’ve seen for a restaurant of that scale. Excellent Old World wines at very reasonable prices. A true gem.
With meticulous preparation and perfect seasoning, every dish I’ve had at Kitchen Istanbul is a delight. The service is very good and the ambience perfect for an special moment.
Great food and wines. Friendly efficient service, attractive setting. Owner/Manager very personable, knowledgeable about wines and helpful in wine selection.
Delicious food and a very nice ambience. Excellent service The kabobs are very tender and flavorful. It’s a great place to meet people you haven’t seen for a while because there’s just the right amount of noise to easily hear each other, yet enough be able to be a fun and be celebratory environment.
Neighborhood gem! Love the modern Mediterranean Turkish vibe of this restaurant. Great wine selection as well as amazing menu of Turkish appetizers, entrees and desserts. 10/10 Turkish recommended!
Great wine list!
We arrived for an early supper before a museum visit. The ambiance is simple but attractive. There is a wall of wines, perhaps a retail adjunct. We ordered from the salads and appetizers only but were delighted by the well prepared, and tasty dishes. We had a salad of greens, lentils, grains, mint and currants plus fried Brussels sprouts and zucchini cakes with a yogurt dip. A perfect light meal! Made me miss Istanbul, a favorite city.
Best dinner in years. Fresh, unique and exceptional taste. Very friendly people.
We were so impressed with the food quality & service! The menu was exquisite and the food so fresh and tasty. The brussel sprouts, halumi, salads, and kebabs are delicious..you can’t go wrong. The wine was great and the atmosphere was very homey too. Excited to go back!
Fabulous neighborhood restaurant with lovely menu, delicious appetizers and an outstanding wine list. Friendly and helpful service.
Wow! A pleasant surprise, wonderful flavors, great wine recommendations, definitely recommended.
FAQs
You can order delivery directly from Kitchen Istanbul using the Order Online button. Kitchen Istanbul also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 753-9479.
Kitchen Istanbul is rated 4.9 stars by 942 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. Due to local restrictions, this restaurant may not be accepting reservations at the moment.
