Balkan Restaurant
209 reviews
May 26
Here, perhaps, is the best place to have both fresh and tasty and a lot and not expensive.
A large selection of dishes. Everything is fresh. People are coming in a line, so the dishes don't stagnate, and in the heat it's important. Chicken, beef, offal, fish didn't notice, but I didn't want to either. 3 fresh boiling soups to choose from. Everything is baked, not fried, for many it is important. The service is quite decent. Everyone is friendly and ready to help. Interesting desserts.
Leave tips. It may be a small thing, but it's always nice.
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May 15
Great dining room! Highly recommend it! The interior is modest, but that's not the main thing. The main thing is great food! A large selection of ready-made dishes. Everything is delicious, homey. The prices are very encouraging. Despite this, meat is not spared. The portions are large. One of the workers at the distribution speaks Russian. A great option for inexpensive and delicious food at the tourist center.
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March 1
Hello everyone, it will be short but honest. We visited this "restaurant" a couple of times, the choice of dishes is really good, the food is quite tasty, except that it can be cold, but this more often concerns side dishes and food that is already on the plates. The portions are quite large, there is an option to ask for half, the menu is in Turkish and English, the prices are written, but it is not clear how they are considered. An average meal for two adults cost 800-900 lire. In principle, it is 200-300 liras cheaper than in similar places. As a summary, you can eat. Everything is in your hands)
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December 7, 2024
The restaurant has 2 floors (there is -1 floor). The food is varied, delicious, inexpensive. There are always a lot of people, there is a queue, but it's worth it. The staff is friendly, the location is good.
The desserts are just great🔥
I definitely recommend this place🔝
The current price list for November 2024.
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12
May 3
Oh!!! This is a very tasty place!!! Especially delicious lentil soup (during the trip I ate in 3 different places and this one in 1 place) Everything that we ordered in the fourth is very tasty here. There were four of us, and for the first time we ordered beef, moussaka, rice, and desserts for everyone, but we ate too much. The next time, they already took one portion of meat and side dish and divided it into two. I advise you to try something spicy and then wash it down with ayran, I was surprised by this combination. Prices are affordable a full serving of meat, side dish, bread, soup cost me 480 rubles (as one dish in a restaurant)
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May 17
It's a great place, the food is delicious, the portions are large, the prices are low. We went to lunches and dinners. A lot of locals eat there. Although there are a lot of people, there are always free places. They serve you quickly. It is located in the city center.
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1
March 31
A quick service canteen, I would call it that. There are a lot of ready-made dishes, everything is delicious, you can see for yourself what you will eat, all the dishes look very appetizing, I want to try everything! The prices are pleasant. The big advantage of such canteens is not only low prices and "goods in sight", but also fast service for further sightseeing tours. There are a lot of tourists in Istanbul and you just can't waste time!
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March 9
To begin with, I'll make a reservation that this is not a restaurant, but a budget canteen. But everything is delicious and fresh there. And very cheap. Given that this place is within walking distance of the main attractions of Sultanahmet, it's just a magic wand for "eating, but fast." Having a nice beer or enjoying dessert is not the place to go. Eating delicious and safe for the stomach for little money is definitely here.
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1
January 10
Friends, I accidentally found this place on the Internet and I strongly advise you, we went here for two weeks to have breakfast and sometimes lunch, very tasty dishes and budget prices! Two excellent lentil soups, a salad, and tea were priced at 250-270 liras. I advise you to come for breakfast at 10:30-11:00, there are practically no visitors at this time!
And once again I will draw your attention to the lentil soup, tastier than I have never tasted anywhere else!
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4
December 13, 2024
When we were vacationing in Istanbul, we found this place on the way to the ferry. Good location, delicious and varied food. I recommend that you definitely visit. Polite staff, tasty and inexpensive.
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February 16
Delicious, national, spicy and inexpensive. The soups are great, the legumes and the cereals are very well cooked. TURKISH SWEET PUMPKIN is the best dish that is sold there. It's clean, crowded and in the very center. You can take food with you, it's nice too
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2
May 1
This establishment is a chain of canteens. There are no waiters and everything is self-service, but everything is very tasty. Don't pay attention to the simplicity of the dining room itself, the tables are constantly being cleaned and wiped. Most of the visitors are locals, including many young people.
Given the presence of only tourist-oriented restaurants and cafes around (there is more expensive food, but the quality is unimportant), the prices here are very pleasant.
At the same time, very large portions. Soup and a second course for a man, and I'm already full. We took another dish for two with my wife, and we had already finished eating.
In terms of cost, we did not pay more than 20-22 dollars (790 liras). And this is with ayran and dessert.
I highly recommend it, especially in this expensive area. 👍
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November 10, 2024
A wonderful place for a hungry tourist) Against the background of very expensive cafes and restaurants in Istanbul, this is not a bad alternative: it is not expensive, very tasty and very large portions. While looking for a place to eat with the family (wife, son 13 years old), the queue of locals at this cafe attracted attention, if the locals go, then it is acceptable in all respects. We went too, we did not lose. It's quite simple to explain, you can point your finger at the right dish and they understand everything. By the way, there are a lot of Russian-speaking tourists among the visitors. The three of us ate for 600 lire ("first, second and compote") )) They came to eat twice.
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5
April 4
Super canteen, much cheaper than most cafes, large portions, very tasty food! The locals eat here, and this is the main indicator of quality! I highly recommend it, especially for lovers of Turkish cuisine!
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August 17, 2024
A nice dining room. The prices are inexpensive, unlike any establishment in Istanbul. The queue is moving fast. There is a lot of choice. Everything is fresh and delicious. I really liked the bread))) the floor of the baguette is 1 piece)) but there is also a disadvantage. I got a hair in the porridge. Fortunately, I saw it right away and it was on the side of the plate. I showed it to the employees. They apologized and offered to change the plate. But I refused. Very tasty lentil soup.
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April 9
A wonderful budget canteen. Always very tasty fresh food. The prices are as low as they can be. You can even go in the morning and get a portion of lentil soup. The choice is not the biggest, but you will not stay hungry, there is everything from bread to dessert.
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May 28
Canteen in the Sirkeci area, prices are not expensive, not a bad choice of soups, hot dishes, sweets. There is Turkish coffee. The portions are large, you can order half a serving. It's worth stopping by for lunch and dinner. There are no breakfasts (omelets, fried eggs), the locals eat soups for tomorrow. On average, you can eat per person (salad soup is hotter) up to 250-300lr.
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February 27
A very cozy place, a very warm welcome. Excellent cuisine for a reasonable price. The staff speaks Russian well and are very hospitable. A place where the friendship of peoples is not an empty phrase.
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February 27
Delicious. Inexpensive. Large portions.
Being on a limited budget, we had a great dinner together for 285 lira (pictured). Prices for the end of February 2025 in the first photo.
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1
March 17
Good location in the city center
Delicious homemade food (we are not particularly picky)
Prices are generally super by the standards of the city !
In the region of 500-600 lire for two !
In general, it's a find , not a place, I recommend it to everyone !
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2
December 13, 2024
A good fast food cafe,inexpensive, drink only bottled water and juice,no tea and coffee,convenient menu in the window, you can first familiarize yourself then go in and buy,a big minus is that it is only in Turkish, not in English
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February 25
We found this cafe based on Internet sources, it's generally budget friendly (compared to other cafes), the food is delicious/varied. The contingent is generally "local", which indirectly confirms the quality of the institution. The staff is friendly, the waiting time is minimal and they work quickly. I recommend it to everyone for the price/quality ratio.
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April 11
Something like our canteens. Lots of dishes. You walk in with a tray and tell me what to put in. There is a menu, but it is difficult to find the dish on the counter. That's why you take what you like. And then you'll find out at the checkout how long your lunch lasted. The usual dishes are soup, meat, side dishes, salads. There are a lot of people, but there are always empty seats. Empty dishes are quickly removed.
Lunch: soup, rice, meat with gravy for one person cost 480 lire. Not to say that it's cheap. But if you want to eat quickly and simply without sitting around and without paying 10% for the service, then you can go here.
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November 17, 2024
Good tasty food with large portions.
Everything is neat and clean.
All ordinary Turks eat here, so the prices are adequate.
Maybe without any special frills, because it's just like a canteen, but compared to the prices in other pretentious "restaurants", it's wonderful here and you can just eat, and that's the most important thing!
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5
November 27, 2024
Locants are social, state-owned canteens/cafes. The service is like in canteens, the food is like in a cafe. The prices are very low. For 300 lire, the three of us had a hearty meal (without drinks). Everything was very tasty. Tables are cleaned efficiently and instantly. We noticed that a local man standing in front in work clothes paid much less for a full tray. For tourists, the price is probably different. But it's still much cheaper than cafes and restaurants. I especially recommend those who have a budget limit.
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October 21, 2024
A great place for both a full lunch and a snack with desserts. The first impression of our canteen, but then comparing it with all the street eateries, the Balkans win. There is a very large selection of dishes. Usually there are 4 types of the first and 15-20 of the second. There are chicken in different variations, fish, meat, side dishes and salads.
Of the disadvantages, there are queues, but a large number of staff are served quickly.
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1
January 14
Very tasty, cheap, large portions, an excellent choice for every taste. Everything is fresh, from the heat from the heat. It's clean, despite the large number of people.
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September 1, 2024
This is a great cafe... there are many canteens, but this is a very cool cafe. Very tasty and affordable food. It is comfortable for the stomach. And rice and meat and fresh bread. The prices are very adequate. You won't regret coming in. For me personally, this is the place where we always return when we arrive at the center.
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6
1
May 27
Delicious dining room!) We got there in the morning, so there were soups and desserts) I have lamb soup in my video. There's only broth thickened with flour and meat. Very tasty and satisfying. Only if you are a tourist, they will give you a full portion, and this is a lot and not so cheap. You can ask for a half. Another very interesting dessert is something like baked rice pudding, I recommend trying it, it's creamy) if coffee is offered, it means it's Turkish coffee, the volume is small, keep in mind)
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October 17, 2024
It's very tasty, there are queues, but they are somehow dealt with quickly, both locals and tourists eat here. The portions are very large. Despite the large flow, it is clean and cleaned quickly from the table. It doesn't make sense to compare the dining room and restaurants/cafes. But we returned to this place more than once to eat. Prices don't bite. I definitely recommend you to visit.
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1
February 25
Food for every taste, a large selection of desserts, everything is fresh, they tell you everything, they understand how many people came, there are always places, you don't have to wait.
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November 25, 2024
The service is fast. If you see a queue on the street, don't be scared. 5-7 minutes and you are already at the table with the selected dishes. A varied menu, not a restaurant of course, but the prices here are very reasonable. Cheap and satisfying and of high quality. It is in high demand and therefore there simply cannot be expired food here. There is a hearty and normal dish, but there is, right, delicious. Clean and tidy. In general, it is satisfying, cheap and with confidence that you will not go without heartburn - this is here.
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January 17
A very budget dining room at Istanbul prices. The food is normal. The service is fast. A good option for economical meals when visiting Istanbul, Sultanahmet district
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March 20
A great canteen where you can eat inexpensive food in the Center of Istanbul. We ate for 500-650 lire for two. These are two soups, a salad, the second with meat (a very large portion, so we took 1 for two), two teas. This is for the beginning of 2025, well, it's sooo economical. The average check in cafes is 1500-2000 lire. I definitely recommend it!!!
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October 16, 2024
A great place to eat inexpensively and deliciously in Istanbul. It is very diverse, the portions are huge, the prices are reasonable. I took poultry, chickpeas, beef, soups, side dishes. I recommend it for independent travelers
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April 9
In central Istanbul, this is the only place with an adequate price tag for food - the queues from the locals will not let you lie. In the queue, you can meet both a worker and a local clerk in a suit and tie.
Clean, tasty, cheap, without cheating - what else does a tourist need? )
For example, the price at 04.25, two delicious lentil stews, bread, ayran, a small drink - 164 lira or 360 rubles.
Highly recommend it.
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March 14
An ordinary canteen. It's dirty. The food is cold. There are no places for Russians there. They cheat on the cost. Everything needs to be checked. Payment by card is possible. You order tea, they carry it for half an hour, when you have already eaten and are about to leave. We went together. Out of 5, 4 tea was brought, and I had to prove that it was paid for.
I don't recommend it at all.
I didn't ask anyone, they said it wasn't bad. It's not only nice there. It's very bad there. And the attitude towards you is different, like why did they show up. Yes, people are walking. The food is mediocre.
One plus is inexpensive. But apparently it cost us the same as at a street cafe.
At least you can sit down at a normal table and eat hot.
Who needs a quick snack welcome.
And at the moment, I don't recommend eating normally and feeding the child at all. The prices are the same as in any other cafe.
It was 03/06/2025. If anyone writes that it's delicious, it means they just didn't eat delicious food. Cold food doesn't taste good either, especially when you're frozen and running to eat something hot. There is no microwave to preheat.
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1
May 25
We went to the locanta with friends. Everything is delicious as always. You can pay using the SBP. Prices have increased everywhere, of course, but the quality here is excellent as always.
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August 21, 2024
As in this whole area of Istanbul, the prices are wild. But if you take a meal, it is very tasty, satisfying and large portions. It's not a pity. The place is good. Not like in tourist eateries with touts. Together with his wife, they ate 300-350 lira, which in August 2024 is 800-900 rubles. It's quite pleasant for myself. And there are a lot of locals eating here, which says a lot
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3
1
October 31, 2024
Our only regret is that we found this place too late. Probably the only place in the center of Istanbul with normal prices. The food is delicious, in a large assortment. The prices are reasonable, the service is pleasant, the cleanliness. You can take it out.
When we are still in Istanbul, we will only go there for meals.
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November 15, 2024
Very affordable prices. The food is delicious and colorful. A good location. Within walking distance of the main attractions, you can have a tasty and inexpensive snack.
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1
April 17
Cafe -canteen. Large portions. Delicious. The queue is moving fast. Lots of tables. Immediately remove the dirt from the table. You don't have to wait. A clean toilet. The three of us ate for 1000 lire. We ate too much)))
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October 29, 2024
The dining room is very good, the prices are among the cheapest in the city, and the portions are simply huge. The food is fresh, delicious, and took meat and side dishes, soup, salads, and desserts. A very decent place for budget travelers. We've been here many times
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1
October 15, 2024
Great place! We went here almost every day. Delicious homemade food at affordable prices (October 2024). I especially liked the rice and chicken soup. They put a lot of meat on it. We took 1 serving of meat for two. Dirty dishes and tables are quickly cleaned. I recommend it!
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November 17, 2024
A good dining room is within walking distance from the metro, the place is busy, a lot of people, but the queue moves quickly, the staff does not really understand, so they showed with a gesture what they wanted, everything is delicious and edible
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1
January 5
A wide variety of dishes. Good prices. Large portions. Lots of people. The locals eat here too. Approximately 800 m from Galata Bridge.
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February 10
Delicious, fast and inexpensive (for Istanbul)
Chicken with potatoes, vegetables and soup with meat came out for 368 liras. Two desserts with 165 lire.
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2
April 14
For Russian tourists planning a vacation, I am writing.
Delicious food, the price tag is generally excellent, you can ask for a small portion (I warn you in advance).
People with digestive problems - tested.
Everything is great. And you can take it with you.
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August 18, 2024
It is difficult to find a good place at an adequate price now, it is just the same delicious and inexpensive, lunch for two 650 lira, it is soup salad, meat, desserts and a drink *2. I think that after all, they round up the cash register for tourists, because the canteens are still designed for locals
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1
February 15
We were there once. It's delicious, but I wouldn't say it's much cheaper than in a cafe nearby. There were a lot of people, so I had to eat quickly and make room for others. But in general, I recommend it.
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