Tracked on 2 lists across 2 authorities, ranked as high as #55.
Here in this boisterous, cozy wine bar, you'll find some of the city's best Turkish cuisine, lovingly prepared with bold traditional flavors and a bit of Californian flair. Start with an ideally silky hummus, enriched with crunchy chickpeas and a pool of toasty chili oil, or the ultra-flaky börek, featuring golden phyllo dusted with sesame seeds and filled with a creamy mixture of goat cheese and leek. More substantial dishes, like deeply browned chicken legs over creamy pearl couscous, are likewise excellent. For dessert, the künefe kadayif, featuring crispy, buttery, syrup-kissed kataifi, melty cheese and a flurry of crushed pistachio, is best in class. Not to be overlooked, the exceptional wine list is a treasure trove, including affordable gems.
Kitchen Istanbul appears on 2 of the lists Mouga tracks — ranked or rated on 1, and written up on 1 more. Here's the full trail, dated and linked to each source.
