Sini Ethnic Omakase | Fine Dining Restaurant — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

On our last leg of our Turkey trip, my siblings and I returned to Istanbul in search of something different. After traveling for the last 10 days fueled by inexpensive chicken döners , it was time for a change. As it so happened, my family and I booked a hotel in the Taksim area, merely 3 minutes away from what would become a incredible, and unique dining experience.

Situated in a quaint alley in Taksim, Sini is truly a hidden gem. We walked into the restaurant with some previous knowledge of what to expect but nothing prepared us for what was to come.

Sini is a small, yet tastefully decorated restaurant. The owner, and the chef greeted us warmly upon our arrival. We ordered a handful of items, completely awestruck by the variety, quality, and attention to detail of the menu. We ordered the chili oil drizzled dumplings, beef xiolong bao, beef dan dan spaghetti noodles, and fried prawn and avocado sushi. We also opted for the vietnamese coffee with cream (it was served to us hot).

Expect there to be a bit of a wait while your food is being prepared, if you do not have a reservation (which we did not). It actually feels part of the experience as the kitchen is exposed to the restaurant. We watched the preparation of the dishes, further fueling our ravenous hunger for a unique meal. While we waited, we were served our coffee, and the owner generously gave my younger brother a passion fruit and dragon fruit infused drink. I cant exactly remember the name of the drink, but WOW it was delicious and refreshing (yes we sip each others’ drinks).

Now on to the food. Every plate served to us was an experience we never had before. Every dish fulfilled our cravings for savory, umami flavors. Perfectly spiced, and delicious, we were extremely satisfied with each dish. The owner surprised us with an extra dish on the house- seafood croquets. WOW were they good.

At the end of our meal, we enjoyed the butterfly thailand tea- the first time I’ve ever seen a blue tea in my life. The aroma and taste was incredible. We finished our meal with the matcha creme brulee. We had ordered one crème brûlée, however the chef prepared an additional miniature bowl just for my brother (again on the house!) .

All in all, we had an incredible dining experience at Sini. Thanks to the generous hosting of the owner, and chef, we are extremely satisfied. Could not recommend this...

Be careful with the prices. We walked to the restaurant, asked to see the menu, and the worker showed us the testing menu costed 750 lira per person. He told us to arrive at 8pm. When we arrived, they started bringing out the plates (without explaining anything). The food was incredible, and it would have been a great experience. But things got weird when the bill came. They bill said the normal price for what we ate costs 2,500 lira per person, but since we were walk-in customers (most make reservations), that they were giving us a 50% discount (1,250 per person). They also said since we were walk-ins, they would allow us to pay by card, since apparently they only take cash. This seemed a little off and asked about the 750 price they had showed us, but the chef explained that it was a special menu today and that she doesn't come in to cook every day, and apparently the 750 price was for when she isn't there cooking (at least this is what we understood). We were a bit frazzled, but paid and left. As we left, we spoke with the other guests that ate at the table next to us, and it turns out they were also surprised by the price. They had made a reservation in advance, but they paid they same as us, so it seems like the 50% walk-in discount wasn't true. The food was great, but we all left a bit shocked, and we all honestly wondered what had just happened. It seems like there are many good reviews here, so I don't want to think the worst, but at the very least, there was pretty horrible communication on their part. Every customer paid significantly more than they were expecting to pay. So if you go, just make sure you're crystal clear on what the price is before you...

fusion restaurant in town in one of the most dangerous locations in Istanbul. All the food is freshly prepared with good ingredients.. Food choice is limited and mixed up. We had a portion of their signature fusion sushi with fresh salmon, avocado, Italian cheese and a drizzle of truffle oil, we also had a perfect portion of dumplings which I found really good and 2 ramen that were disappointing. The broth, that is the key of this dish was the weakest point and the beef too chewy. It seems that dishes are focused on presentation, decorations and not on the content. The restaurant is also equipped with a wood oven that makes the atmosphere warmer. The staff is really kind and the Filipino chef who works behind the scenes, is skilled. Most of dishes in the menu cannot be matched and give the idea that probably they don’t know much about Asian culinary culture . I have never seen a noodle shop serving also sushi. Overall not bad, but repetitive. They need lot of improvement, put feet on earth without attacking people who gives not positive feedbacks about their own country foods. Most of commenters who has given a positive feedback about this restaurant, have reviewed in total on google maps only this restaurant. This made me think a lot. I don’t know how they could open a restaurant with such prices in one of the most dangerous areas in Istanbul. Check the bill before you pay to avoid...