Balkan Restaurant

4.5

826 ratings

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Level 3 Local Expert

The dishes are big and tasty, while the price is absolutely good. Definitely coming again.

Level 9 Local Expert

A great place , where you can have a full meal at reasonable prices. The staff speaks Turkish, English, and a little Russian, and there were no problems with understanding. We didn't overestimate , the portions are large , I would say very large, you can ask for half a serving. The food is delicious. We lived in Istanbul for 7 days, ate here for 4 days, and that was because we didn't know about this wonderful place) compared to local restaurants, the price is excellent, for example, the sutlach (rice pudding) in the restaurant costs 470 lire and in this dining room it costs 90 lire, it tastes the same. Barbecue soup in restaurants 200-400 lire in this dining room 75 lire , meat dishes in restaurants from 1000 lire to infinity, in this dining room 100-250 lire maximum . I repeat, the food is delicious. There is tea, 60 lire, and there is a large tea dispenser behind the cashier.

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Галина Чемерис

Level 13 Local Expert

We were here on 06/16/2026. I really liked it. The portions are large. We took stuffed peppers (quite spicy), chicken (leg in foil) with potatoes, sponge cake in white sauce, bread, lettuce (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions). We paid 600 lire. Beef with pasta in the form of rice 250 lire. Tea 60 lire. They 're running around for tea 😄 It is convenient that you can see in advance what to order.

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Мария Риндич

Level 6 Local Expert

Nice self-service dining room with delicious cuisine. We had lunch here all the time. Chicken, beef, lamb, vegetables, soups. The meat is very soft and deliciously cooked. The dishes are moderate in spices, which was more acceptable to us than traditional Turkish cuisine, spices and sauces are available separately, if necessary. The portions are large, sometimes not even eaten whole, there are traditional desserts and various drinks. Food is also packed with you, if necessary. Payment by card or cash, no receipt was issued for the positions. Three or four servings of different dishes cost from 700 to 850 lira, which was enough for 3 people. June 2026.

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Екатерина Ш.

Level 6 Local Expert

We were in Istanbul at the end of August 2026. We ate in restaurants and in restaurants (canteens). Here you can have a delicious and inexpensive meal, the portions are large, you can ask for a small portion (half). The meat is very tasty, without fat, tendons and other things (a dish with mixed potatoes). The soups are delicious, the peppers are stuffed. If you want to save your budget for other needs, I recommend taking a look here.

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Ирина

Level 5 Local Expert

Pros: reasonable prices, dishes are ready and you don't have to wait. I liked the chicken soup and casserole with meat and potatoes. If you take a salad, then there is oil and seasonings on the floor with which it can be seasoned. The portions are very large. There is a Russian-speaking employee. The price is called at the checkout, it is difficult to check if it is correct. But it's always low for Istanbul. There are a lot of seats (3 floors). The toilet is on the 3rd floor. The air conditioner is working everywhere. Minuses: The lentil soup was very spicy. However, this is for an amateur

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Глеб Зимин

Level 4 Local Expert

Inexpensive food. I can safely say that this is more of a dining room than a cafe. There is no service, you take a tray and type everything yourself. You can ask for your food to be lifted by a tray elevator to your floor. It was delicious and inexpensive, and the impression of the place was good. But I didn't want to go back. Tk smelled very strongly from the mouth after lunch. There are additives on each floor: ketchup, mayonnaise, Turkish sauces and spices. Everything is free. There is always a place, but a lot of things from the menu are missing, because they cook different things every day. There is a choice, but not much. The cook came across a Russian speaker, which was a pleasant surprise, and explained what was in each dish.

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Арина л.

Level 4 Local Expert

As I understand it, there is a large network of canteens. Interestingly, there is no black tea, but they bring it from the neighbors. You can ask for small portions of food, which will affect the price (but not the entire range ...). It's very budget-friendly, the lamb is already moving away from the bone, the lentil soup, spices are on the table separately, you can use them freely, a lot of paper napkins. There is a toilet (not used, but there were arrow signs). It's open during Ramadan, and there are a lot of empty seats before sunset, but it's very crowded. There is a takeaway option. The food is delicious, the assortment is more or less the same, but not always everything is available, by the evening there are not many options left. There are desserts, water, ayran, lemonades, etc. The bread is delicious.. For tourists, the price is shown on a calculator. Some people are given a wet napkin if they see that they are stained. The workers themselves remove the trays, it's amazing how they carry stacks of trays and plates down from the 1st floor. They speak English and can talk to visitors. I didn't see any negativity. Lots of local visitors. It is conveniently located. Clear.

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Алексей П.

Level 7 Local Expert

Great dining room! It was delicious and satisfying, and the prices were low by Istanbul standards. We had dinner for 700 lire (about 1400 rubles) for two, but we collected a lot of money for this money. You can have a good snack for 400-500 lira (up to 1000 rubles). I recommend merjimek soup, rice and pilaf, vegetable salads, desserts. There is an English menu with prices above the tables if you go inside the cafe. The atmosphere is simple, it's not a restaurant, but I liked it — it's quite cozy. I recommend it as an option for lunch and dinner on the first day of your visit to Istanbul (if you are staying nearby, in the Fatih area)

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Дарья Водолазова

Level 6 Local Expert

Very nice dining room, clean, delicious fresh local food, where only locals eat. The prices are completely reasonable, lamb with potatoes, salad, baklava (by the way, I don't really advise you to try it here, we didn't get it) and the juice came out at 650 lira, you can get it even cheaper, lentil soup and salad will come out at 150. The waiter who served it turned out to be very polite😊

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Xelenafenix

Level 10 Local Expert

Delicious dining room!) We got there in the morning, so there were soups and desserts) I have lamb soup in my video. There's only broth thickened with flour and meat. Very tasty and satisfying. Only if you are a tourist, they will give you a full portion, and this is a lot and not so cheap. You can ask for a half. Another very interesting dessert is something like baked rice pudding, I recommend trying it, it's creamy) if coffee is offered, it means it's Turkish coffee, the volume is small, keep in mind)

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Татьяна Соколова

Level 12 Local Expert

Very nice dining room. We've been eating lunch here for 4 days. The employees don't know Russian well, but they understand the basic words. Especially the expression "with myself"))). Always friendly. The lentil soup is very tasty. I tried it for the first time. Two soups + salad + dessert - about 600 rubles for our money. Two second courses + salad + dessert - about 1,500 rubles. And delicious.

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Ксения Мезенцева

Level 30 Local Expert

The establishment is located in the central part of the old town. At lunchtime, the queue goes outside, but it moves quickly. There is a large selection of dishes, there are vegan options, some chefs understand Russian. There are desserts. The interior is simple, the dishes are delicious, the prices (relative to Istanbul) are low.

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Татьяна

Level 3 Local Expert

Top place! A large selection of Turkish dishes, everything is fresh, delicious meat, lots of desserts (the best rice pudding!). Low prices! Lunch is mostly local)) payment by card/cash. We ate there twice during the trip and were delighted both times 🙂

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Михей Андреев

Level 30 Local Expert

The most important impression is why I have not been to this place in the previous 5 visits to my beloved Istanbul! Now we have lunch or just eat, being in the Sultanahmet location or Eminu marina only in Balkan Locantasi. The soup is served in funny aluminum bowls. Everything is very tasty! Soups, second courses, salads, desserts. Ayran! Lots of locals. If you see a queue on the street, don't panic, it's a maximum of 5 minutes. If you see that the whole hall is full and there are no empty seats, then, too, do not panic, there is also a hall on the ground floor, which is almost always either empty, or even there are always full seats. Funny cashiers who don't give you a check unless you ask for it are just funny dudes. There are toilets on the ground floor, attention, one stall in each location. In the end, it's just fucking delicious and safe. Yes, everything in our beloved city has gone up in price. But what to do. In mid-October 2025, the bill for 1300 lire for two is 2 soups, 2 second courses, ayran and cola with bread. And there's a lot of everything and it's delicious!

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Ястребова Н.

Level 7 Local Expert

Excellent dining room, very reasonable prices for Istanbul, I tried beef stew, very tasty rice, chicken, rice pudding, I liked everything. A great option for budget lunches/dinners in the city center.

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Марина

Level 5 Local Expert

It's a very nice place. We took two hot ones, salad, baklava and two teas, which cost about 500 lire. Delicious, satisfying and inexpensive, the staff is friendly. In contrast to the cafe, where touts are constantly walking, with a crazy price tag and a desire to deceive you, this is just a paradise, I definitely recommend it!

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Светлана *.А. *

Level 9 Local Expert

We had a rest in Istanbul, there were only breakfasts in hotels, it was expensive to eat every day in a cafe. This "canteen" is a godsend in terms of price and quality of food. The food is constantly being replenished, there are a lot of tourists, the food does not have time to go stale, beef, lamb, chicken simply melts in your mouth.

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Надежда

Level 14 Local Expert

And my son and I liked it! We had lunch there several times. Everything is fresh and delicious. They were paid in cash. Everyone is friendly, they are used to tourists)) The cleaning waiters immediately remove the plates and wipe the tables. There were always seats on the second floor. The first one is usually all occupied.

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Виктория Стерхова

Level 8 Local Expert

A great place for lunch, we stopped by several times for lunch and dinner, the portions are very large, the Turks have a side dish and a main dish served on different plates, such as rice with liver, they will give a large portion of rice separately on a plate and a large portion of liver on the second plate. We had lentil soup and a second course for two, desserts are also normal. There is an announcement in Russian for Russians in the hall.I'm talking about the prohibition of drinking alcoholic beverages in cafes. You won't regret going, the prices are reasonable

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Сергей Касимов

Level 5 Local Expert

Among other establishments in Istanbul in its historical center, among hundreds of identical establishments with the same menu and exorbitant price tags, it is unclear how they can withstand competition, I will single out this institution. If you want to eat delicious and inexpensive (now just for reasonable money, it used to be cheaper) - you are here. Yes, this is more of a canteen for locals than a cafe or restaurant, here you will not sit and drink beer for a long time, but rather go to eat before the road or after to refresh yourself, and for these purposes it is an ideal place. There's often a queue during the day, but you shouldn't be afraid of it, it moves fast.

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Елена

Level 5 Local Expert

Now it has become much more expensive to eat in Turkey than before.We recently visited Istanbul and discovered this place for ourselves.It's budget friendly and quite tasty.Lentil soup with a quarter of a loaf and a cake of about 140 lira, if you take it three times, it's too much for me, but you can order a small portion.(250-300 lire)There are queues, but they resolve quickly enough.The tables are cleaned regularly, there are a lot of locals.If you're not picky, it's fine.

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e-fun.vladimir

Level 18 Local Expert

Here, perhaps, is the best place to have both fresh and tasty and a lot and not expensive. A large selection of dishes. Everything is fresh. People are coming in a line, so the dishes don't stagnate, and in the heat it's important. Chicken, beef, offal, fish didn't notice, but I didn't want to either. 3 fresh boiling soups to choose from. Everything is baked, not fried, for many it is important. The service is quite decent. Everyone is friendly and ready to help. Interesting desserts. Leave tips. It may be a small thing, but it's always nice.

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Пупынька Тишайшая

Level 11 Local Expert

It's quite tasty, the prices are reasonable, and it's clean. You can take food with you: ask for it at the distribution – they will put it in the stalls, pack it. We had lunch there three times. I liked the chicken in different forms the most. This is a Soviet-style dining room. And the staff is a bit boorish, just like in the cafeteria. You won't stay hungry, but don't expect delicious dishes. It's quite affordable and the portions are large.

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Наталья А

Level 7 Local Expert

We came in with my daughter. We took pilaf with beef, pasta in the Navy style, a piece of watermelon, cola and sprite. They gave me 500 lire. Very tasty food. It's fresh. Of course, the fat content is high, but the food is very tasty.

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Евгений

Level 11 Local Expert

Excellent dining room. National cuisine. Like we have borscht, okroshka, and mashed potatoes in our dining room. Only here they are national, domestic. The average price tag of 350l is 700r. Turkish sweets 🤗 45-70lr. In general, a place for those who want to save money and eat national cuisine. 5 stars. The waiters are good-natured and very attentive.

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Денис Кузьминых

Level 8 Local Expert

Fast, tasty, inexpensive! A wonderful cafe chain. A variety of dishes for every taste. They're already ready, so you don't have to wait. very tasty! As a Russian tourist, Turkish cuisine as a whole "did not go in". Lots of spices, but few sauces. (We ate in different cafes and restaurants). There is also food that has left a very good impression of the entire Turkish cuisine. By the way, the portions are huge, so you can take either one for two or half a serving (which is a little cheaper). I recommend it to everyone! 👍🏻

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Владимир Кодаченко

Level 14 Local Expert

Excellent dining room. It is considered a social institution. That is, under the control of the state.There are a lot of locals who eat. And the locals know a lot about food.There are many national dishes, and the pastries are wonderful. The meat just melts in your mouth. A large assortment. And relatively inexpensive, for the center of Istanbul. For two people with a good lunch, 400-450 lire. For comparison, shawarma in street cafes costs 280 liras. So I highly recommend it.

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Татьяна Фёдорова

Level 6 Local Expert

We had lunch in this dining room periodically during three visits to Istanbul. We go there when we are in the Sultanhamet area. I do not know a better dining room in Istanbul. Very tasty. We even joked once that their chef works in some cool restaurant in Istanbul in the evenings. For us, it's the taste of homemade food, inexpensive, without an unpleasant aftertaste. There are always a lot of locals and tourists, clean, pleasant staff. There is a toilet

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Мария

Level 14 Local Expert

Canteen in the Sirkeci area, prices are not expensive, not a bad choice of soups, hot dishes, sweets. There is Turkish coffee. The portions are large, you can order half a serving. It's worth stopping by for lunch and dinner. There are no breakfasts (omelets, fried eggs), the locals eat soups for tomorrow. On average, you can eat per person (salad soup is hotter) up to 250-300lr.

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Виктория Фролова

Level 8 Local Expert

The prices are low, the quality of the products is good. I definitely recommend it. I gave 250 lire for chicken soup and chicken with vegetables. 500 rubles for ours. This is very beneficial for Istanbul.

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Cavun Cava

Level 6 Local Expert

It's a great place. Learn the frequently used words in Turkish and they won't deceive you. The taste is great! It doesn't seem very good for Russian cuisine, but it is very similar to the national dishes of my people. The cost is amazingly low, in February 2026 - 4 plates of dishes (3 meat dishes) + 2 desserts + ayran - 480-600 lira. A great option for those who come to Istanbul for work or for the tenth time. Fast, cheap, satisfying.

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Татьяна Гринберг

Level 7 Local Expert

Great dining room! Highly recommend it! The interior is modest, but that's not the main thing. The main thing is great food! A large selection of ready-made dishes. Everything is delicious, homey. The prices are very encouraging. Despite this, meat is not spared. The portions are large. One of the workers at the distribution speaks Russian. A great option for inexpensive and delicious food at the tourist center.

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Вячеслав Папенин

Level 17 Local Expert

Excellent dining room, very tasty, satisfying and inexpensive.The staff is very friendly, there are no problems making an order, even if you do not know Turkish or English.In the sixth, we ate for 2000 rubles, which is very budgetary by Istanbul standards, it's not for nothing that the police, doctors, firefighters and social workers eat here.In general, I definitely recommend this place!Good luck to all

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Ольга

Level 5 Local Expert

We were with my husband in March 2026. The choice of food is large, everything is delicious, the prices are reasonable. Traditional Turkish dishes. The place is popular, so there are a lot of people there.

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Александр Деревков

Level 21 Local Expert

Great dining room! We took moussaka, salad and water with my wife. It came out all together for 600 lire. Quite a decent price. The portion sizes are large, and the food is delicious. Below is the current price list for September 2025.

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Алексей Алексеев

Level 3 Local Expert

Great place! It has a very affordable price tag relative to other establishments in the area. Friendly staff, there are Russian-speaking staff. About the food itself: everything is delicious, fresh and hot. I definitely add this place to my favorites, I will come here myself and advise everyone.

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РХ

Level 6 Local Expert

Simple, clear and delicious food at reasonable prices. It is popular with tourists and locals. The service is fast, despite the queue. The cafe and the toilet are clean, soap and paper towels are available.

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Татьяна Щербакова

Level 8 Local Expert

We recently returned from Istanbul. Passing by a couple of times, we were surprised that there was always a queue. Before leaving, we decided to stop by for lunch. It's very tasty, the portions are huge (for us), the choice of soups, hot dishes, side dishes, salads, sweet. We liked it, I recommend it!

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Евгений Селезнев

Level 10 Local Expert

In an area that is expensive for tourists, this budget institution is simply a salvation. For two, a simple lunch of 600 lira (1,200 rubles) is usually the price of only one dish in Sultanahmet restaurants. Everything is fresh and quite appetizing. I recommend you to visit.

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Евгения К

Level 18 Local Expert

The best dining room! Very, very, very tasty! I've been there several times and tried different dishes. I'm thrilled! And the prices were low-cost, the lunch cost from 150 to 400 t.lire per person. It's simple and delicious at home.

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Марат Х

Level 30 Local Expert

Nice dining room, very rich selection. There are a lot of local people, which means everything is delicious and not expensive. I eat here often when I come here.

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Валерий Рыжов

Level 7 Local Expert

A good, hearty canteen-restaurant with large portions. The average receipt per person for hot food + salad+ drink + dessert in September 2026 is 400 liras. There is a second floor, there are enough places, the locals use this kitchen, which gives a good description

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Владислав И.

Level 9 Local Expert

A good budget dining room, if such a word is even appropriate with current prices in Istanbul. Nevertheless, the prices are lower than in other canteens in the area, you can keep within 300-400 lira per person. It's also fascinating that there are always long queues here and a lot of locals! The entourage certainly leaves much to be desired, but if it doesn't bother you and the price is right here!

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Валерий Б.

Level 10 Local Expert

This dining room is the best of the best of the best. It is almost the only place in the historical center of Istanbul where you can have a delicious and satisfying meal for an adequate amount. For those who will be there, there is a table in the center of the dining room where any spices, ketchups, and mayonnaise are available.....

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Kostantin Dovzhikov

Level 18 Local Expert

Excellent canteen in the city center in the tourist area. Please note that there are many locals eating there. There are almost always queues. This is an indicator of a good place. I recommend to try the local dishes, everything is cooked very tasty

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Вера

Level 13 Local Expert

We came here after reading the positive reviews, everything is really fresh and very tasty, for 2 salads, shurpa with lamb, 2 servings of rice and chicken fillet with cheese, 2 lemonades we gave 630 lire

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Галина Б.

Level 3 Local Expert

Excellent food point, clean and very tasty. A huge assortment and not expensive. The local population eats there, which is a good indicator. Well done!

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Максим Б.

Level 11 Local Expert

Great location, all the locals eat here. Prices don't bite at all, the child can be fed, take the usual delicious chicken soup "Tavuk Chorba" or lentil soup "Merjimek Chorba", you can ask for a takeaway, in Turkey it is called "in a package"))

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tatfom

Level 5 Local Expert

We found this cafe on the Internet, we were very satisfied, a large selection of dishes, low prices, perfectly cooked, a lot of visitors, but nevertheless we did not wait long, I recommend you to visit. During my stay in Istanbul, it has become one of my favorite cafes.

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Balkan Restaurant

502 reviews