Seyar Niaz
I work nearby and come here pretty often for lunch. I’ve always had a good experience. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the service has been solid every time. It’s a bit pricier than some other spots, but that’s pretty standard for Turkish restaurants in the DC area.
Today I tried something different and ordered the mixed cold meze platter without meat, and it was not bad.
… moreEda Özdemir
Honestly, this place is a gem! We’ve tried so many things here — Chef’s Mix grill, grilled octopus, Hünkar Beğendi, the chefs Mix meze, Iskender, ezme — and every single dish has been amazing. Add an Efes beer on the side and it feels just like being back home in Turkey. As a Turk who really misses the food, this spot is our go-to every couple of months. Always tasty, always satisfying!
… moreScott White
While the food here is fairly good, there’s essentially one dish that really grabs me, and that’s the iskender kebab. I’ve had a few other dishes, and while there’s plenty of meat / food, I don’t think the flavors “Wow” me. On top of this, I think given the environment, service, and flavor profiles, I do believe the prices are high. Service is ok, but again, given the prices, I think service is lacking. This last trip my wife and I split our meals, sharing an iskender kebab and an arugula salad, partly due to price and partly to balance our meal with having some greens. My son had the Adana kebab.
Solid food. Relatively good service and this place can get busy. The environment is very nice, and the staff are very friendly. Parking is free but based on how many people are at the restaurant, parking might be hard, but not impossible. I think the prices are slightly high but you do get a lot of food which makes up for it. This last trip I had the manti, which was pretty good but not completely what I expected. My wife had the lamb shank, which she enjoyed. And my son the iskender kabob, which was delicious. A definite keeper.
Overall good food and worth going to. Service is great, with warm, welcoming, and friendly staff. The atmosphere is nice. Casual enough for family, friends, or someone special (but not that first date maybe). The food is good with a wide selection. I had the doner kebab plate, which was good, and very filling, but did not compare with doner I’ve had in Europe. It’s worth trying because it is good but just didn’t scratch my doner itch. My wife absolutely loved her dorado (fish), while my son and I weren’t particularly impressed by his hunkar begendi (lamb with a “blended” eggplant base). We book-ended our meal with atom for an appetizer (has some heat to it but didn’t WOW me) and kunefe for dessert (solid and a must try). So in sum, consider giving it a try.
… moreAl Ectric
The donor kabob meat is what brought me here and I gotta tell you, I was extremely impressed. For me, the taste is perfection in and of itself. Service was fantastic. Parking ️ is decent. Atmosphere is ok, but it can afford some facelift at some point (but I have to say it’s an older building. I can highly recommend for sure!
… moreRuth P
On 01.19.25 my friend said. We need to eat some real food. I can go without eating alot but I know she can’t be like me… so I said, I’ll treat you order what u want. She ordered and I added lentil soup to have delivered . Oh my gosh, the soup was so good.
So the next evening we said let’s go and enjoy it in person. That’s what we did. We ordered delicious food and of course the lentil soup. Then we got an array of desserts and enjoyed…. the Turkish coffee… I think i was in the 7th heaven!!
My goodness. I love Turkish food. My friends loved it, too.
I’m dreaming of it.
The owner is exceptionally nice!!!
You have to try it.
… moreMarie Gordon
I met my nephew here for dinner; the food was delicious! We both started with tea, he had a yogurt type drink and finished up with coffee. The hummus with pita was perfect! Our entrees were large and yummy! He had the chicken and I had the falafel. We both had dessert, baklava and something similar to flan. The staff was exceptional and they have free onsite parking. Highly recommend. A wonderful meal.
… moreAnas Alkhatib
I was incredibly disappointed by the value at Istanbul Grill. For two adults, our bill came to $120. They added a mandatory $19 ‘service charge,’ yet the receipt still prompted for an additional tip—a very frustrating and misleading practice. When you consider that many nearby restaurants offer high-quality buffets for $27–$29, the pricing here feels completely unjustified. The food was okay, but certainly not worth the premium price tag or the sneaky fees. Save your money and go elsewhere in Arlington.
… moreFernando Martinez
I had an exceptional experience at Istanbul Grill. The chicken was incredibly juicy, full of amazing flavor, and truly exceeded my expectations. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which made the visit even better. The environment is warm, clean, and perfect for families. I will definitely be coming back soon with my family. Highly recommended!
… moremeryem boumediene
Excellent service and great food!! Definitely coming back! Everything was good! I was so exited to try the Turkish cuisine, and it was the best decision to choose this restaurant, they really took a good care of us especially the Iraqi guy, it was a really pleasant and wonderful experience!
… moreJim Healey
Probably deserve a 4.5 rating. Not very crowded on a Wednesday.
Tried one of their yogurt drinks..not my cup of tea!
Food was excellent. Service very personable and helpful.
We were unexpectedly surprised with Istanbul Grill, 4617 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203. On our “probably return” list.
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