BALAT Street CAFE & RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Fatih

Sept. 2024: What a nice place with great owners! Their menemen was true masterpiece. Thank you!

UPD. April 2025. I’ve decided to take back all five stars I previously gave this place. After rebranding as "Street Food Cafe" (though the owners remain the same), the quality has taken a nosedive. What used to be a favorite spot now feels like a disappointing imitation of its former self.

The "Turkish breakfast" for 300 lira was a complete letdown - not only did it fail to live up to the photo in the menu, but it also felt like a cheap caricature of what it should have been. The menemen was utterly tasteless, and the gözleme… well, how do I say this politely? It was borderline inedible - like a piece of stale lavash that had been sitting in old oil for months before being reheated.

It’s a shame to see how far this place has fallen. I’m removing it from my favorites and won’t be...

The best bar I’ve been to yet! We stayed 1 week in Istanbul and ended up going there for 4 days straight. Me and my friend had menemen (arguably the best in town) and çay. The family who owns and runs it are tue friendliest people there is, the grandpa was so lovely! It was a true pleasure discovering this place and I will go back as soon as I again...

This is one of the best cafes I’ve ever been to. Eating lunch here was such a joy - the servers were kind and generous and helpful, and the food was outstanding. The decor and general ambiance is also beautiful, so if you’re looking for a cute spot where you can get anything from a quick snack to a full meal, this...