Istanbul Kitchen — Restaurant in Virginia

One Word. GEM!

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Amazing & Endearing. The ladies behind the counter have this "Bilmiyorum" (I don't know how to explain) way of treating you with such respect, attention, and appreciation for coming in; that leaves you speechless. You can't avoid falling in love with the wonderful team!

FOOD

We had two Istanbul Platters one chicken and one beef. With hummus and the "tzatziki sauce" I really can't remember if it was.

Both meats had a delightful delicate balanced taste. None of the different elements of the dish overpowered the other element. The sides were very fresh and full of flavors. My compliments to the chef!

Yet, each element of the dish complimented the other. Making each of our dishes outstanding.

Now why not 5 stars?

One element was stood out for the wrong reason. The chickpeas. They weren't cooked long enough. They were hard. Chewable but hard.

Again, everything else had perfect taste and textures.

DESSERT

Sadly, I don't remember the name of the dessert but it's something similar to a 3 milks cake but better and beautiful.

The flavors made sense. Hints of different flavors would jump out here and there making the experience fun and one to remember.

All on all, one great, great place!

Can't wait to go back!

RETURN FACTOR: 💯 %

RECOMMEND A FRIEND...

I have enjoyed the delicious food at Istanbul Kitchen Tyson’s Corner from the first days it opened. The friendly owners and staff are always super kind and ready to make the visit memorable. My most favorite dishes are Istanbul Platter with either chicken or köfte or both. Love the salad that comes with it and two choices of meze and also a veggie side. My favorite veggie side is moussaka on Wednesday’s. Another favorite of mine are the börek, pastry filled with spinach or cheese or ground beef or chicken/veggies. Everyone one of them is delicious and I’m looking forward to find out which börek is baking in the oven for a hot of the oven freshness. The many delicious Turkish deserts are to die for! I have been so lucky to sample several of them. Each home made and the authentic flavors are unforgettable. The traditionally spiced tea is such a treat! Paired with pistachio filled baklava is a perfect desert after the main course. There is a cozy corner with comfy chairs where having a coffee, tea and desert is a very relaxing experience. I have made it a habit to have lunch at least three times a week at Istanbul Kitchen and always looking forward to the next meal! I find the prices fair and an excellent value compared to the eateries in Tyson’s...

Absolutely delicious!! I definitely didn't come to Tysons Corner searching for authentic Turkish food but...wow...I was so impressed by this hidden gem. Tucked away in the Tysons Corner Mall food court, Istanbul Kitchen offers authentic, fresh, and tasty Turkish food at a relatively cheap price. Their Istanbul platter is absolutely delicious and has all of the variety that you could ever ask for. It's the perfect sampling of Turkish garlic bread, hummus, rice pilav, salad, and whichever main dish you want -- one of my friends tried their kofte, another sampled their sauteed chicken thighs with cream, and I had their vegetarian kofte. I've had quite a few dry or flavorless vegetarian koftes, so I was genuinely impressed by their's...it was made with zucchini, carrot, parsley, leek, dill, and feta, and it was absolutely packed with flavor. We also tried a few of their homemade cookies, which were made with chocolate chips and almonds or walnuts, as well as their baklava. Both were just the right level of sweetness and incredibly tasty. Highly recommend if you're hankering for a snack or meal while shopping in Tysons, or honestly if you're just on the hunt for cheap and yummy...