Cafe Istanbul

2014 W Division St, Chicago
(773) 661-9487

Recent Reviews Order Online Reserve

Customers' Favorites

Risotto Del Presidente
Baklava with Walnuts
Chef's Mixed Grill
Braised Lamb Shank
Turkish Breakfast
Chocolate Mousse
Grilled Calamari
Turkish Delight
Lamb Doner Wrap
Iskender Kebab

Menu

Featured items
Chicken Kebab
Herb marinated chicken breast, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Doner
Lamb and veal combined, seasoned and cooked on a vertical rotisserie, basmati rice.
Beef Kebab
Seasoned, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Turkish Feta Salad
Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, feta cheese, black olives, and house dressing.
Braised Lamb Shank
Braised Colorado lamb shank, garlic, butter, served with mashed potatoes.

Dinner Menu - Appetizers
Hummus
Chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil.
Lahmacun
Thin dough topped with minced beef, seasoned vegetables, served with sliced tomatoes, onion and organic arugula.
Char-grilled Spanish Octopus
Roasted potatoes, greens, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon zest, olive oil, caper sauce.
Sogurme
Smoked eggplant, yogurt, walnuts, garlic, mint, extra virgin olive oil.
Grilled or Fried Calamari
Salsa Verde, cherry tomatoes, capers, avocado, and micro greens.
Arnavut Cigeri
Fried lamb liver seasoned with hot pepper, served with onion and parsley.
Mujver
Pan fried zucchini pancakes with scallion, feta cheese, mint, fresh dill, creamy yogurt sauce.
Salmon Carpaccio
Atlantic salmon, egg yolk, chives, capers, pickles, fresh lime.
Su Boregi
Homemade dough layered with feta cheese and fresh dill, served with fresh garlic yogurt sauce.
Stuffed Artichoke
Shrimp, shallot, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, mozzarella cheese.
Hamsi
Pan-seared anchovy, green field.
Mussels
Steamed in white wine, cream, fresh herbs, cherry tomato and white truffle oil.
Poached Celeriac
Fresh garlic, olive oil, carrot, English pea, fresh dill.
Patlican Salatasi
Smoked eggplant, garlic, lemon juice, scallion, and roasted bell pepper.

Dinner Menu - Soup & Salad
Turkish Feta Salad
Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, feta cheese, black olives, and house dressing.
Shepherd Salad
Tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, scallion, and house dressing.
Classic Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce, garlic-herb croutons, parmesan cheese and homemade dressing.
Lentil Soup
Red lentil, onion, red pepper, tomatoes, and fresh mint.
Classic Onion
Garnished with bread croutons and swiss cheese.
Soup of the Day

Dinner Menu - Entrees
Imam Bayildi
Roasted baby eggplant stuffed with red pepper, onion, tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, served with rice pilaf.
Braised Lamb Shank
Braised Colorado lamb shank, garlic, butter, served with mashed potatoes.
Risotto Del Presidente
Imported arborio rice, jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, shallots, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, shitake mushrooms, shaved parmesan.
Turkish Delight
Sautéed wild mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, baby carrots, bock choi, garlic served on a large plate of hummus with pine nuts and Turkish golden apricot.
Manti
Homemade tortellini stuffed with veal, served with creamy yogurt, chili oil, and tomato sauce.
Braised Short-rib
Fresh herbs, served with soft polenta.
Pide
Thin flat crispy dough baked with cheese and choice of ground beef, diced lamb, sucuk or veggie.
Coated Stuffed Chicken Breast
Mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, fresh mozzarella, mashed potatoes.
Islim Sarmasi
Braised lamb shoulder, wrapped in eggplant, served with basmati rice.
Risotto Pesto
Arborio rice, cream, butter, and parmesan reggiano.
Linguini Ala Cozze
Fresh pasta, shrimp, mussels, olives, fresh garlic, olive oil, capers, fresh herbs.

Dinner Menu - Meats
Chicken Kebab
Herb marinated chicken breast, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Beef Kebab
Seasoned, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Doner
Lamb and veal combined, seasoned and cooked on a vertical rotisserie, basmati rice.
Beef Mediterranean
Chose of beef or chicken, red and green bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, basmati rice.
Cag Kebab
Originated in Erzurum province horizontally stacked, marinated, roasted on wood fire, lamb kebab, basmati rice.
Iskender
Doner meat, toasted bread, yogurt and tomato sauce, brown butter.
Lokum
Char-grilled filet minion, sauteed mushroom, potatoes gratin, demi-glaze sauce.
Kuzu Şiş
Lean, nerveless lamb meat perfectly seasoned, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Chef's Mixed Grill
Combination of skewered chicken, beef medallion, sea scallop, shrimp, doner, basmati rice.
Beyti Kebab
Hand chopped lamb shoulder, seasoned, skewered, wrapped in flat bread, served with French fries, yogurt and butter sauce.
Rack of Lamb
Herb crusted Colorado lamb, oven roasted, demi-glazed sauce, sautéed vegetable.
Adana Kebab
Hand-chopped seasoned lamb shoulder, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.

Dinner Menu - Steaks
NY Strip
26 oz USDA choice.
Ribeye
30 oz USDA choice.

Dessert
Baklava

Coffee
Turkish Coffee

Sides
Rice Pilaf

Featured items
Chicken Kebab
Herb marinated chicken breast, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Lahmacun
Thin dough topped with minced beef, seasoned vegetables, served with sliced tomatoes, onion and organic arugula.
Doner
Lamb and veal combined, seasoned and cooked on a vertical rotisserie, basmati rice.
Iskender
Doner meat, toasted bread, yogurt and tomato sauce, brown butter.
Beef Kebab
Seasoned, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Imam Bayildi
Roasted baby eggplant stuffed with red pepper, onion, tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, basmati rice.
Grilled or Fried Calamari
Salsa Verde, cherry tomatoes, capers, avocado, and micro greens.

Lunch Menu - Appetizers
Grilled or Fried Calamari
Salsa Verde, cherry tomatoes, capers, avocado, and micro greens.
Hummus
Chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil.
Lahmacun
Thin dough topped with minced beef, seasoned vegetables, served with sliced tomatoes, onion and organic arugula.
Char-grilled Spanish Octopus
Roasted fingerling potatoes, celery, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon zest.
Poached Celeriac
Fresh garlic, olive oil, carrot, English pea, fresh dill.
Su Boregi
Homemade dough layered with feta cheese and fresh dill, served with fresh garlic yogurt sauce.
Arnavut Cigeri
Fried lamb liver seasoned with hot pepper, served with onion and parsley.
Salmon Carpaccio
Atlantic salmon, egg yolk, chives, capers, pickles, fresh lime.
Stuffed Artichoke
Shrimp, shallot, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, mozzarella cheese.
Mujver
Pan fried zucchini pancakes with scallion, feta cheese, mint, fresh dill, creamy yogurt sauce.
Patlican Salatasi
Smoked eggplant, garlic, lemon juice, scallion, and roasted bell pepper.
Mussels
Steamed in white wine, cream, fresh herbs, cherry tomato and white truffle oil.

Lunch Menu - Soup & Salad
Soup of the Day
Lentil Soup
Red lentil, onion, red pepper, tomatoes, and fresh mint.
Classic Onion
Garnished with bread croutons and swiss cheese.

Lunch Menu - Entrees
Chicken Kebab
Herb marinated chicken breast, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Doner
Lamb and veal combined, seasoned and cooked on a vertical rotisserie, basmati rice.
Beef Kebab
Seasoned, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Iskender
Doner meat, toasted bread, yogurt and tomato sauce, brown butter.
Imam Bayildi
Roasted baby eggplant stuffed with red pepper, onion, tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, basmati rice.
Adana Kebab
Hand-chopped seasoned lamb shoulder, skewered and charcoal grilled, basmati rice.
Roasted Half Chicken
Boneless half chicken, fresh herbs, garlic, French fries.
Pide
Thin flat crispy dough baked with cheese and choice of ground beef, diced lamb or sucuk.
Linguini Ala Gozze
Fresh pasta, shrimp, mussels, olives, fresh garlic, olive oil, capers, fresh herbs.
Seared Salmon
Pearl couscous, calamari, fresh tomato, zucchini and curry sauce.
Kofte Kebab
Ground beef and lamb seasoned, basmati rice, tomato, peppers.
Coated Stuffed Chicken Breast
Pounded chicken breast, mushrooms, spinach, fresh mozzarella.
Risotto Pesto
Arborio rice, cream, butter, and parmesan reggiano.

Lunch Menu - Sandwiches
Our Big Burger
10 oz black angus beef, mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, tomato and lettuce, served with fries.
Chicken Panini
Grilled chicken, tomato, roasted bell pepper and mozzarella cheese, served with fries.
Lamb Doner Wrap
Seasoned lamb cooked on rotisserie, lettuce, onions, tomato, served with fries.
Kofte Wrap
Ground beef grilled patties, lettuce, tomato, onions, served with fries.
Salmon Wrap
Grilled salmon, chipotle mayo, tomato, served with fries.
Veggie Wrap
Portabella mushroom, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, severed with fries.

Dessert
Baklava

Coffee
Turkish Coffee

Sides
Rice Pilaf

Photos

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Photo credit: google
Photo credit: google
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Photo credit: google
+96 photos
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Recent Reviews

The Turkish food here is absolutely wonderful. My Turkish son-in-law says it is the best in Chicago. Our party of six all had praises for our different entrees. The service seemed slow by American standards but that is the Turkish way. Enjoy the entire dining experience with ease. Definitely a place to relish and savor the experience.
January 2026
Excellent food and service! The staff was welcoming without being intrusive and accommodating of our dairy allergies. The dining room ambience is also lovely with it's white table clothes service items. We look forward to returning soon!
December 2025
Café Istanbul is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience authentic Turkish cuisine in Chicago. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance transported me straight to Istanbul. The food was simply amazing; each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. What truly stood out was the exceptional service, especially from our server, Amir. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain each unique dish in depth, enhancing our dining experience. I highly...
November 2025

More Reviews

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Cafe Istanbul

2014 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 661-9487