Tucked away on a vibrant pedestrian street in the Kadikoy district is one of our favourite casual, authentic and affordable Turkish restaurants in Istanbul, Ciya Sofrasi. This virtually tourist-free Turkish restaurant offers some of the most delicious authentic Turkish cuisine in town, prepared in an open kitchen in front of you by acclaimed chef Musa Dagdeviren and his team of chefs. Savour in the fragrant aromas of their bubbling pots of freshly made Turkish soup, simmering exotic casseroles and homemade marinated meat kebabs grilling in their wood fired ovens. With influences from Asia, the Balkans and Mesopotamia, Ciya Sofrasi offers a wide selection of hard-to-find Turkish specialties such as chicken and rice timbales baked in wafer-thin pastry; along with a dizzying selection of classic mezes, fresh salads and sumptuous casseroles which you can order yourself while standing at the kitchen. Enjoy the vibrant activity of the passing parade by sitting at their highly entertaining outdoor terrace tables.
