Bilice Kebap — Attraction in Beyoğlu

We came here in november 2022 and had a very good, enjoyable meal with a board full with meze for a reasonable price (for a touristy place).

Today we came back again to hopefully have the same pleasant experience. Short story: we did not.

We ordered 500 grams of lambs racks for 2000 tl (incredibly expensive but we’re on vacation so splurging a little is fine) however when it came to the table it was 4 small lamb racks with enormous bones attached to them. Considering you can have 2 very good meals for the same price at any other good kebapçi, this is insane for 4 bones with only a mouthful of meat on it. Also when you compare the amount of meze you get it’s significantly less than before. Whereas the plate was full with meze in 2022, the plate was only half full today.

At the end when the bill came they also put a dish on the bill we did not order. I’m not sure if this was intentional or an actual mistake but this incidence made me rate this place even lower.

To summarize: From 2022 till now they’ve changed in a very bad way. The food still tastes nice, but the portion sizes and the prices are terrible and not in proportion with what you get.

I would not recommend anyone to go eat here again, and I honestly regret coming here to eat and spend almost 200 euros for a meal with 6 (none of us feel full).

I initially wanted to give this place 2 stars instead of 1 because the food still tastes nice. However because of the incidence (of which I have a feeling might be intentional), I changed the review of 2 stars into 1. The astronomical prizes are something the owners really need...

This tiny little, unassuming restaurant in the middle of Beyogluk seems a little dinky at first. Metallic window frames, tiny tables fitted upon a tiny sidewalk, staff that barely speaks English at all, and a menu chart that looks like it came out of a snackbar, with prices that match that feel.

What you will get however is some of the most incredible service you'll find in Istanbul. The owner is incredibly friendly and the low prices shouldn't be assumed to mean bad food: it is phenomenal. And for prices as low as 40 lira for a 2-person menu (barely 8 euro) you'll be amazed at how much you get.

It's prepared beautifully, though not all served at once (the kebap is served later, though you do get bread upon which you can put the side garments, which is nice) and it is a little inconvenient to eat since you really do have to use your hands. Nevertheless, you will be overjoyed with how delicious it is.

And don't just take my word for it, the restaurants walls and ceiling are absolutely covered with post-it notes full of recommendations of people that ate there. We're speaking hundreds of notes.

There's a reason this place has such a high rating, and you will love it too when you go here. If you're in Istanbul, and there's only one place you are going out to eat at, make sure it's Bilice. It'll be an unforgettable experience.

It also helps that the restaurant is in a surprisingly quiet street, with quite a picturesque and pleasant environment. It's never busy either - truly one of Istanbul's hidden little gems, of which there...

We were recommended this kebab restaurant by the hotel receptionist, but it felt like a typical tourist trap. While the place is cozy, the service was incredibly disappointing. The staff seemed uninterested, barely acknowledged us, and there was no music or ambiance to make the evening enjoyable. No one explained the menu properly, leaving us confused about what to order.

We tried a selection of dishes, but for the price, the portions were minimal. They served several small plates of salads and pickles that looked like they’d be filling, but they weren’t. When we ordered fries, they arrived cold; even after we asked for a replacement, they were still cold. The kebabs—whether meat, lamb, or liver—were mostly fat with very little actual meat. We ate because we were starving from a full day of sightseeing, but this was definitely a one-time visit for us.

And yes, there’s supposedly free tea included, but no one told us. We noticed others enjoying tea, so we asked a waiter if it was served, but he just walked away without a word. So, if you end up here, don’t forget to get your free tea—just don’t expect the staff...