Review Istanbul Kebab - Rivonia

Istanbul Kebab is a hidden gem of Turkish cuisine! The flavors are incredibly authentic and the quality of the food is top-notch. The kebabs are tender and flavorful, while the sides like hummus and tzatziki are fresh and delicious. The friendly staff adds to the overall pleasant dining experience. Definitely worth a visit!

Food here is yummy, not much to complain about. The service is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is viby with a bit of a calm feeling, and is very well decorated as its to theme. If you are into hub, I have heard that they do make a very good hub, and it's clean.

Was my first time @istanbul_kebab_Sunninghill_Villa - a wonderful birthday surprise ❤️👌OK, so more abt the food, ambience and service - 😋 impeccable 👌 deliciously addictive- will definitely be back again! Thanks to the staff

Whilst visiting the sunninghill village mall Istanbul kebab peaked my interest..so Karissa and I indulge in a late lunch..oh what a lovely meal..served so appetizingly..tender chicken strips served with yogurt was my choice and Karissa chose their namesake kebab with fresh chips..our meals accompanied with bowls of side dishes ie..spiced butter beans..mashed roasted eggplant..hummus..herbed yogurt.. carrot onion chillies.. Great service from the serving staff...yes the complimentary Turkish tea always pairs well with the food..pleasurable dining experience. Thank you

I simply love this place for both food and setting. Really feels like I am in Istanbul sitting in a classy bistro in a little suburbian neighbourhood. Their food is great all around from the wraps to the iskender kebab. Portion sizes are great. I would say its a little pricey but this is commensurate to the quality of the food and service. My favourites are the lahmacun, iskender kebab and kunefe. They also have hookah and of great quality without any burn a d lasts a really long time too. I love this restaurant and recommend you try the food. I can't sing their praises enough.

Istanbul Kebab was highly recommended to us from a Turkish family. We went there with our kids today and everyone was extremely happy, and very full when we left! The food was all excellent. We started with some hummus and roti, and we all got an entree. Although we all got there hungry we took three separate boxes home because there was so much food. It's a bit of a drive for us to get there, about 40 minutes, but I have a feeling we'll be visiting many more times.

Always a great experience at Istanbul Kebab Sunninghill. Delicious and authentic food, great seating and ambieance... and really good, smiling staff. The complimentary Turkish tea after a meal is the cherry on top. Only one downside, food's quite pricey here.

The quality of the food was impeccable. It was really tasty and was enough to fill the hunger spots. A good menu with good options that allow you to taste a little bit of everything. The service was excellent. The staff were always on hand without being overbearing. Table and seating space is comfortable, which is great for large groups or families going out to eat.

If you are like me, always searching for different and nice places to eat, then this one is for you. The food is out of this world, the service is excellent, and you'll have your food within 10 minutes of ordering, every time. Worth the try.

Excellent food and order was taken and food was delivered in quick time even though the restaurant was extremely busy with all tables full and people waiting in a queue to get into the restaurant. Excellent customer service and well done to the management of the restaurant. All table are seen to. You don’t get this kind of service from other restaurants even when they are quite. Well done, it was worth the trip to your restaurant.

A bit pricey but so well worth every cent . If you are a small eater , the mix plate for one can easily be shared .

Wonderful restaurant, we had the mixed platter (serves 2-4) it was delicious, the chops, sliced kebab and chicken kebabs together with the rice was the highlight for me. Alot of meze sides included. Service was excellent and topped off with complimentary turkish teas was a lovely touch.

Food was very delicious. And the plate was too much filled and the price was reasonable. The waiters were also very good and attentive. The place was clean.

Some of the best food in the country, really loved the food with great service. Meals are very large and definitely made with sharing in mind.

The food was absolutely delicious as always 🥺💕. The service was amazing as well 👏 😍

Everything was fine and the food great until I decided to go. <br/><br/>When your customers ask for a doggy bag, avoid stealing from them for something they paid for. <br/><br/>In my doggy bag, were missing: <br/><br/>- pita bread<br/>- one piece of chicken<br/>- one piece of lamb<br/>- doner beef<br/>- rice <br/><br/>Won’t come back even though I like the food, dishonesty a just a red flag.

Ordered a take away meal on my way home to the East Rand, such a variety to choose from - everything looked divine. As i waited for my meal - i was given a cup of turkish tea = delish!! Keep dreaming of this place. Need to go back again!

Visited Istanbul Kebab recently and the food was amazing. Authentic, tasty and very generous portions. The service however was quite poor and the waiters were inattentive. I will defintely be back for the food.

Very disappointing experience! <br/>The food is so bland and not worth the drive. The donor kebab was no good and Istanbul mix plate was extremely tasteless.

YOU RISK BEING ATTACKED! Please don’t be fooled by the reviews on this site. This place is a cover-up and launch place for attacks on people waiting for an Uber in this busy place. MANAGEMENT IS IN CAHOOTS WITH THE CRIMINALS. Yesterday, when having an god awful meal there, I witnessed such an attack, and the manager/owner of the place admonished his staff for trying to intervene, shouting: “you are not the police, get back to work”. Later I heard from others this happens very often in front of this restaurant, and is known to Uber. Many drivers will cancel your trip if you ask to be collected there. BE AWERE, TOO DANGEROUS. By the way, the food stinks as well (literally).

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!....fresh authentic Turkish/Middle Eastern food.....Very reasonably priced too.....The only reason I haven't given a 5 star is because I find this establishment a bit too casual. For example the other night I went there and behind me were five screaming toddlers running around making a noise and disturbing me and the parents said nothing! also I went today and they allowed a table of kids  to bring McDonalds and eat it inside...Also there children were playing with toys and knocking into tables....again the parents said nothing.....They have turned this fine establishment into kiddies play area....They need to be more firm with these people.....I mean M'cdonalds food and annoying kids...

It was fantastic , everything was perfect, from the food to the service and the friendly owner - luved it and will certainly go back - the portions were more than generous, the food was fresh and tasty, the complimentary tea was sublime - a hidden gem in Rivonia

Love for Turkish food, this is the place for you to satisfy your hunger , the cook is blessed everything he made was delicious, must try chicken shawrna with roti !!!

Yummy! Everything about this place was so lovely. The Turkish tea I had ordered was given to me complimentary. The food was wholesome and delicious. Prices are pocket friendly and very affordable

A taste of the Ottoman cuisine. The experience was impeccable. The chicken kebab was mouth-watering. Enjoyed the variety of the extras. A must visit if you want that traditional Turkish experience.

Always good to go to Istanbul Kebab.<br/>Good food at good prices. It's one of the few places we can eat out as a family.<br/>Our favorites are the Lamb Chops and Lamb Kebabs.

I am a very big fan of Turkish food. When the Istanbul Kebab opened few years ago in Rivonia, we have been regular customers. The food is excellent and the place is really accessible. I have been at the restaurant recently several times and do not see the owners anymore. Unfortunately, the service has deteriorated very much. I took my family and friends twice in one week. On arrival, both times, nobody attended to us. I had to ask for attention. Our food was served in very good time. But the waiter went missing throughout. There was nobody coming to ask if we needed anything. I had to ask another waiter to please call our waiter who went missing. <br/>Second time, there were four waiters sitting and playing with their phones. Nobody bothered to ask if we needed anything. As usual our waitress went missing again. I had to ask another waiter to please find our waitress. When the she arrived, not single word was uttered as to why were we ignored. I asked if I could get my apple tea and before I lose you again, please bring my bill at the same time. I was extremely unhappy so I put very little tip. On both occasions, the waiters arrived with bills but no pen so I had to say verbally how much tip must be charged. The second time, the waitress was looking so annoyed with us that no tip was charged. She processed the card, turned around and left. Right from the ordering of our food to payment, the waitress did not utter a single word. On our first visit during the week we were served by a waiter. On complaining, he just said he would attend to us and wouldn't ignore us. The second time, it was. a waitress. She took our orders with complete silence, never came to check on us, brought our tea upon looking for her, we paid and never heard a word from her as to why was she missing. <br/>It used to be a great place. We will still go there as this is the only Turkish restaurant in the area but not with friends or visitors because the service is on free fall. The food is great but unfortunately, as it happens with most businesses, as they expand the service standard drops.

05.10.2017. Where have you been all my life Istanbul Kebab. I love food that is filled with spices and just tastes soo good without having to add salt or pepper or chilli of any kind. We ordered a variety of foods and everything was cooked perfectly and tasted great. <br/><br/>The best was the Naan bread, the Chips and the Lamb Kebab. Wow what a kick, added with the coolness of the fresh salad to accompany the food. Fresh, colourful and tasty. The Chicken wasn't bad either but I preferred the Kebabs spice. Great variety of foods. We had the Chicken Cubes, Mixed Platter for 1, the Lassi, the Lamb cubes and the Wrap. <br/><br/>Its not in the best centre, so it's a casual place to go. It's Halaal and for those who love Hooka, they have it there too. <br/><br/>I will definitely be going back for more

I was craving lamb chops so I thought I'd give Istanbul kebab a try. And I wasn't left disappointed...the lamb was soft, and the fatty bits were perfectly crispy. Served with a whole lot of extras, it is a very well priced meal. The falafels are also worth a try 👌🏽

Popped into this place by chance as I had a meeting in the area and needed a quick bite, I ordered a lamb shawarma which came with chips, not bad for 65bucks, the lamb was tasty and tender. The place has a very chilled takeaway vibe but would def like to go back to try some other the items on the menu when I'm not in such a rush.

Inflexible and poor service. Ordered on UberEATS and couldn't change the order from beef to lamb even after offering to pay more. No effort to accommodate my change.

The food here is really good (when it's properly cooked). Better to stick to lamb or beef, as the chicken was undercooked the last time I was there. The raw chicken was then grilled again and was still pink on the inside. Unapologetic and poorly trained staff didn't help either. That being said, the lamb and beef dishes are really good (had them a few times).

We were super impressed the first time we ordered take always from them. The wrap and lamb cubes were so tasty and the attention to detail amazing. Unfortunately the second time we ordered was such a let down. There is no consistency

Searching for a restaurant that had availability for last night became a trickier task than expected, I mean availability has become a thing again? ... love it! Moving on, I landed up on zamato for some further inspiration stumbled across this little gem.... <br/><br/>Thrown completely off track from the original idea.. table for two, glass of wine for him and a virgin something for preggy... this is a kebab shop.<br/><br/>I made a mental note to myself to allow room for disappointment, because in Holland and Ireland, Istanbul Kebabs are my favorite corner indulgences when starved from exploring or partying.. so we just had to go and put it to the test! <br/><br/>They did not disappoint.. !!! it still wasn't walking into Iskanders in Dublin but it was well worth it and definitely due a trip or 10 back with friends and the kidlets! What I loved was when you walk in.. it's filled with Turkish patrons and that you certainly want to see when you expecting to sit down for some authentic cultural food! <br/><br/>Understand it's a kebab shop, not BROWNS restaurant so you going to walk into a kebab shop, with that said clean, open and warm table seating areas, had no issue with our service!! <br/><br/>Our flat bread with hummus was served as fresh as it could come, still hot to the touch .. Bryan Balfe ordered the Beef Iskander Shwarma. I wasn't a fan on the special sauce flavor... he loved it! It's a sweet creamy flavor.. but rather spicy too! He did however comment on the fried bread under the meat being slightly odd which I had to agree with! With that said he cleaned up his very generous portion! <br/><br/>I ordered the Istanbul Mixplate for 1... could feed 2 with a side order of extra bread.. but I was in my happy place!!!!! The lamb chops I wouldn't order again not for any reason other than they are much like meat off the braai.. but the chicken and ... the lamb kofta!!! The beef shwarma meat is hands down what you expect from it and not anything near the comparison Anat call shwarma! <br/><br/>Their salad mix is diverse and offers something to everyone's palate, from carrots to pickled cabbage (which I demolished) ... it's the perfect menu to sit down with friends over and break bread and fill up with proper authentic yumminess! The aromas and flavor and cultural variation is worth the visit! Don't forget to have the Turkish black tea!!!! I want to go back and buy a bag.. <br/><br/>Portions are big!!! Food is so well priced .. bill with drinks .. R300 for two! <br/><br/>Just so great to have authentic cultural variances available to explore and enjoy!

Strangest dinning experience I've ever had! I'm 7 months pregnant and was craving chicken shawarma. We walked into the restaurant and before we sat down we asked the waiter to show us the menu. We asked if they had beef and chicken shawarma on the menu and I specifically asked him if they serve chicken shawarma with the pickles. He confirmed that they do. We then said we will take a seat. Moments after seating us and while we were going through the menu, the waiter comes back asking if I wanted hot or mild shawarma! I asked him if he had already placed an order because we have not even decided what we wanted to eat, never-mind place an order! He said yes and we told him to immediately cancel it as we need to go through the menu and choose our meal. At that point we asked for the drinks only and asked how big the wraps were; only for him to go back and come with a tray of food!!!! On his own he ordered two beef shawarma which we did not ask for!!!! My husband was nice enough to take the beef but I asked him to at least change mine to chicken as I cannot eat beef!!!! He had the audacity to say that it is expensive to cancel!!! He then eventually brought the chicken shawarma which had no pickles and I just gave up. We packed the food for take away and paid and left immediately to the Syrian restaurant across the street for some decent service and food! NEVER EVER AGAIN!

Istanbul Kebab: Bored with our routine, we decided to try this Turkish outlet for a quick Sunday brunch. We choose to sit out as it had limited seating inside but later we were bugged by a bee and forced to move inside.<br/><br/>It's a decent small outlet with spacious seating arrangement. We ordered Lamb cube kebab and Chicken Cube Kebab wraps. The portions were way too huge for a person with normal appetite and we had to take away the left overs.  Chicken Cube Kebab wraps were good with the chips. However their Lamb Cube Kebab was nothing great. The food arrived on time and service was good. <br/><br/>Overall, a pocket friendly place to try some Turkish flavors.

Went to Istanbul Kebab for a quick Saturday night dinner with some friends. We all ordered kebab, which was really tasty and the portions were good. The service was really friendly, and we enjoyed the complimentary apple tea. Jolene

Had such a pleasant experience at Istanbul Kebab over the weekend. My advice would be to maybe not go on a Saturday night, as everyone parking on that street will be on their way to clubs/bars, which can cause quite a traffic jam.<br/><br/>I ordered the chicken fillet kebab and was not disappointed. The price was more than reasonable and the portions were very generous. The food tasted amazing, even if we did have to wait a while. My only complaint is that my food did arrive quite cold, which is a pity because I usually like my food scorching hot.<br/><br/>The waiters were extremely friendly and helpful, but service was a bit slow at times. Our meals were also ended off with complimentary Turkish apple tea, which was good, not great.<br/><br/>Will definitely come back soon to try more options on the menu.

It had been a hectic day and we were looking for something quick and healthy to have for dinner. After quite a bit of aimless driving around, we ended up at Istanbul Kebab in Rivonia. We've driven past it so many times and we've had never been to a Turkish restaurant so we decided to give it a try.<br/><br/>I wanted to order a wrap but I wasn't sure whether to go for the chicken fillet kebab wrap or the chicken cube kebab wrap - our waiter suggested the fillet wrap so I decided to go for that. The wrap is huge and at R50, it is definitely good value for money. It was tasty with a generous amount of filling. The only thing missing was a creamy element such as mayo or tzatziki. My sister ordered chips with her wrap and they were also pretty good.<br/><br/>This is a great place to go to if you're looking for a something different as there aren't very many Turkish restaurants out there!

We ordered the Istanbul Mixed Plate which was supposed to have three different kebabs. Chicken came uncooked. We sent it back and they just took the same chicken and cooked it again. Good portions but doesn't count if the meat isn't cooked through. The other meat and chips were good. No apology received.

A friend and I had takeaways here on Sunday 05 March. She had a beef cubes wrap and I had a falafel wrap. Service was quick and friendly and the food was amazing! The portions are huge and incredible value for money - enough food for lunch and dinner. I can't wait to go back.

Wishing for wraps the other night, we ended up at Istanbul Kebab and glad we did. I ordered the lamb cubes kebab wrap. The wrap was delicious and the extra chili on the side has a real bite to it. The lamb cubes were beautifully cooked, the only thing lacking was a little tzatziki running through the wrap. A great little place, where you will get value for money.

I love everything about Istanbul, probably my favorite city. So I wanted a quick lunch on Saturday, where I would be guilt free...this was the spot. I was shown to my table and given a run down of the menu and some recommendations. I dig middle eastern food , so I wanted a little bit of everything. Platter for 1. It had deboned chicken breast, lamb chops * 2 , mince kebap, rice , some pulled beef, with yoghurt like dip and humus...did you say for 1? Everything was perfect about a meal...the place is rustic and very Istanbul like and not pretentious at all. I like the simple nature of the decor and the honest food. Going to be a regular....I need to take my wife!!

I wanted to try this place for some time. I had the mixed platter for 1 and what great tasting food. All the meats had their own amazing flavours. You really get alot of food for the price you pay.<br/>The sit down area was next to the road that was not so nice with all the beggars walking next to this area.<br/>I will be back to try the rest of the menu.

Last night, I was searching for a quick, healthy meal option close to my flat, and I found it in Istanbul Kebab. <br/><br/>After being seated, we ordered Turkish coffee, Rose tea and their beef shawarma kebab. All wraps are served with chips, Daydari and Ezme. If you would like Houmous, you need to order it separately for an additional R25, but for me, the quality of the fresh Houmous was by far my favourite thing on the menu last night. <br/><br/>Our service was less than great and the waiter understood very little but I didn't have high expectations so we were quite happy. <br/><br/>Also, there was a cockroach on our table (thankfully after our meal) visiting my plate which really just made me laugh..  to which I got a sincere apology from the chef/manager. <br/><br/>*Recommendation: Don't expect great service (or anything fancy) but they have huge portions and fresh food at reasonable prices.. What is not to like about a pocket-friendly takeaway?

This isn't the most inviting place to sit down and have a meal but we have gotten takeaways from Istanbul Kebab often and we're never disappointed.  Their Iskinder Kebab is phenomenal - melty-meaty with creamy-yogurt and a tomato-based sauce on a bed of pita-bread pieces.  The meals also come with a good variety of sides.  You'll definitely be satisfied with whatever you eat here!

A friend had told me a while ago to try Istanbul Kebab. Being labanese she said it was the closest to home she's found. Very excitedly we went off on our culinary adventure. <br/><br/>Ok admittedly I was a little skeptical at the place. Although with this family run business there was a reason why there were so many branches popping up everywhere. <br/><br/>The waitress came to get our order. Wow, that was a confusing experience. We knew we wanted to the mixed platter to share. But could not for the life of us understand what she meant. We understood it to be a choice of proteins, she then later explained the chefs choose for you. And that the choices where not OR .. they were AND. Resulting in a lot of food. <br/><br/>Pooped, we ordered some drinks while we waited for our takeaways. And not too long after that, the food arrived. And was there a lot of it. We had to order some baklava too - homemade of course. <br/><br/>We got home and opened our takeaways to show even more food than we thought. Chicken wings / thighs; a mince almost meatball cooked on a skewer; meat; chicken and more meat. This all came with hundreds of sides; many salads, sauces, rice and chillies as well as pita (or naan - not sure what to call it). All the meat was seasoned perfectly and so soft you dont even have to chew it. All the sides were divine. I ended up mopping up the juices with my 'naan'.<br/><br/>We got stuck in and honestly I haven't enjoyed a meal like that in a long time. Where you licking your fingers, and elbow deep in yumminess. I dont think I could get it down fast enough.<br/><br/>So the fact that we went on a Friday night, couldn't understand the waiters then got a takeaway, drove all the way home, only paid R175 and rate it up there as an incredible meal, says something.!! A MUST TRY !!

Very authentic Turkish cuisine. Easy parking, great spot and very tasty food. If you are unfamiliar with Turkish or middle eastern food, you may be a bit perplexed. All in all, I'd recommend it.

Great selection of authentic Turkish food at really good prices. They give you a complimentary Turkish Tea after each meal. They also have some Turkish products on sale... Tea, coffee, sauces, chocolates etc. My friends were all raving about the meat. I was a little disappointed as mine was a bit tough, but I'm willing to go back and try again! Next time I'll get the meatballs or mince instead of the kebab. Will be back and will update my review accordingly. Try the delicious Pomegranate Turkish Tea!!

Looking no frills, no fuss, good food and great value for money. This gem of a restaurant never disappoints. Food and ingredients are fresh, tasty and delicious. Been there several times now and they never disappoint. Only wish they had a branch in Fourways. Well done guys, keep up the good work. See you soon again

On a recommendation from my sister we decided to try out Instanbul and we weren't disappointed. With cafe style seating overlooking Rivonia boulevard we perused the somewhat unfamiliar menu eventually ordering the mix platter. This was the perfect choice giving us an opportunity to taste a variety of meats from the lamb and beef shish kebabs to chicken wings and cubes to lamb chops. Whilst the meat is tasty and prepared well, I have to say that the accompaniments make the experience great. Served with a mix of chips and rice, along with a side of mix veg salad, chili salad and cucumber yogurt plus fresh naan, all combined to make for a fresh and flavourful meal not to mention the social sharing aspect. Instanbul is a no frills no fuss restaurant with great ambiance, fresh affordable food and good service. The complimentary Turkish Apple tea at the end of your meal is a nice touch too. Needless to say I've been frequenting them every chance I get.

Great food at a good price! Service was reasonable and I thought that the portions were reasonably sized. Hummus was amazing and Turkish tea served on the house as part of the meal.

Thoroughly enjoyed my meal, some of the meets brought back memory from my Jordan trip! The chicken thighs and lamb chops were my favorite. The naan was extremely light and delicious. This place is great if you looking for something quick and easy, definitely worth your penny than our shawarma franchises.

Some of the best and authentic tasting Turkish food around. Greatly priced, "mother" style portions and will most certainly cure even the worse munchies

Authentic, delicious Turkish staple. The smell of apple tea calls you to come in and enjoy their selection of meats. The salad in abundance transports the eater to Istanbul and the generous portions are wonderful. One can buy several Turkish products to take home. A wonderful budget friendly yet delightful ethnic treat for the tastebuds.

I have been here few times. It has good variety of Turkish food. Food was delicious. It is cheaper than similar Kebab saloons (not Turkish Kebab saloons since they have similar prices). <br/><br/>However there isn't really a vegetarian menu. It is probably because Turkish people like meat so much :)

I was at first sceptical about going to this place , but in the end I was pleasantly surprised! Served with delicious light naan , salads , tomato chutney , I must admit the food was enjoyable. I tried the lamb kofta and chicken kebabs both of which were spiced nicely , could have had a bit more bite but then again this is not an Indian Restuarant. In my opinion this place falls between a takeaway rather than a Restuarant, so don't expect a fancy might dining out. Still feel for chicken portion felt a bit over priced as the kebabs were on the smaller side . We went for a Friday lunch so ambience was non existent. Service was as expected as it was dead quiet . If you looking for something different try out the Turkish delight .

This place is taking Rivonia by storm. Authentic Turkish food at it's best. I sometimes find Turkish food a bit bland but just add a couple of green chilies and that takes care of it. The portions are generous and real value for money. Although the waitress are not familiar with the food but try hard to please you and are pretty friendly. The owners are friendly and always ready for a chat. I had the falafel and really enjoyed constructing the dish. <br/><br/><br/>

Just been to this restaurant for the first time... Gosh what a treat! Had the beef wrap. Delicious! The place makes you feel like you're in Instanbul... You've gotta try it.

Lunch is always good when we do Istanbul Kebab. It's quite unassuming from the outside with Minimal decor but the food is good and the portions absolutely huge. <br/><br/>The chicken kebab and lamb kebabs are great. But don't expect your usual "shwarmas" - these are Turkish through and through. Served with esme (tomato and onion relish) - it's morerish. <br/><br/>You can have Lassi as a drink (salty yoghurt drink) or a wide selection of sodas and juices. <br/><br/>Wonderfully priced, great place to eat.

Oh my actual gosh! What a meal! I swear I thought I was getting a quick schwarma but ended up getting a feast for two 😳👌🏻. The best of it all... I opened the box and a big friendly green chilli was eyeing me out. Thanks guys for lunch and dinner x;)

A new addition to the Mr D menu. Being a public holiday, we ordered in. The other half had a beef wrap and was quite surprised that the meat was both well seasoned and perfectly cooked. I had the chicken wrap which was good too. All mains come with a small side of chips, and small containers of ezme (chili salad) and daydari (yoghurt, cucumber, mint and olive oil). We'll definitely try some of the other items on their menu.

We had dinner here last night and it was simply amazing! The portions are huge and the food is freshly prepared. I had the spicy chicken wings and it was divine. Tasted home made and wholesome. Very very impressive. We ordered 4 other different meals and everyone was pleased with their platters. Defo a must try! The service isn't very efficient but the food is worth the wait.

The one and only time I've eaten Turkish food was in Istanbul and I didn't really enjoy it much. But, my husband has been wanting to try it out, so for a few weeks we've been debating which Turkish restaurant to try between 47 on Grant, Istanbul Kebab and one in Melville. On Saturday we finally decided to try Istanbul Kebab in Rivonia because it was the closest. And I was pleasantly surprised! <br/>Their seating is situated outside the actual restaurant, facing the roadside, but this was perfect for us as we love to people - watch. We ordered the chicken chops and lamb kebabs which they didn't make us wait too long for. The portions are huge as each dish came with an array of salads and sides as well as a large flat bread. The lamb kebab was good but my husband and I were both fighting for the chicken. <br/>The complimentary tea with each meal was a nice finishing touch. We both chose Apple tea which I enjoyed but wasn't to my husband's taste. <br/>Although the service was a bit slow- the waitress repeatedly forgot to bring what we asked her for- I must confess I enjoyed eating Turkish food in Johannesburg more than I did in Turkey.

Love this place the garlic kabaab was amazing and the chicken kabaabs did not like wrap had to much tomatoe pure but I will b back to taste the other food

Delicious kebabs and salads. Highlight is the soft bread that they make , divine. Would have been a 4.5, however on one occasion when got take out, the onions and chill is grilled on the flame were totally burnt and inedible. Best is to sit down and eat at the place. Will definite be there again.

I've always been a huge fan of the original Istanbul Kebab and was initially excited when they expanded, however their newer Rivonia restaurant definitely doesn't live up to the excellent standards of their brand in Fordsburg. Having said that the ambiance here is definitely much better and allows them to cater to larger groups. The service is also pretty good and their prices remain reasonable while their servings remain generous. A great dining option in the greater Sandton area if you want amazing kebab, but still not up to par with the Fordsburg branch which is where the real magic happens.

This place is soooooo good. It's like my happy place. I am pleasantly surprised that the quality of the food is consistent across all the franchises. <br/>I enjoy everything on this menu, but absolute favorite is the Doner Kebab. Platter full of meat, tsatsiki, salads, pickles, flatbread. Such great flavor at such great prices. If you like chilli, I suggest you buy one of the habanero chilli sauces that they stock and take it home with you. Trust me it's good

It's a treat.<br/>After hearing a lot about this Turkish Cuisine around and it's simply delicious 😋. Kebab are simply authentic and be aware that it comes with a full pack meal. Istanbul Kebabs added some south african staple food Chips. Adana kebabs and chicken wings kebab are simply juicy, spicy and to the mark. Tried Pomegranate tea which was simply amazing. <br/>Ambience is not that good but food and pricing wins 4/5 stars.

Amazing Turkish food! Apple and Pomegranate Tea are simply superb! Try their Chicken cube and Lamb Platter-turkish flavor all the way! Over all a great experience👍🏻👌🏻

The best Turkish donar kebab I have had since the UK and that's been 11 years. Great flavours, fresh salad and delicious sauces. <br/>I will be back tomorrow! Jay <br/>

This restaurant is situated in rivonia and is a little gem!! The service is efficient and the food taste great. <br/><br/>We were a group of 10 and ordered a variety of dishes on offer. I ordered the beef kebab while the others ordered chicken and wraps. All dishes come with a salad and chips. <br/><br/>All the food had great flavour and done well. What we also found interesting is that the restaurant also offered a variety of Turkish goodies, like Turkish tea, glasses, and soft drinks. <br/><br/>Would definitely recommend this to anyone!! And will definitely be back soon!!

I was on my way back home earlier this week when I stopped by in Rivonia. I've heard some great things about Istanbul so I gave it a go. I was pleasantly surprised by the really great food!<br/><br/>It's very much a casual take away place but there are a lot of seats. If you're not in a hurry, take a seat and just watch the cars go by through Rivonia Boulevard. <br/><br/>The main meals looks amazing and very filling. But I went for one of the wraps. They're really cheap (around R50) and come in chicken, beef, veg, or lamb! And there's chips and salad. So you're getting a lot of meal for a pretty decent price I ordered the lamb and it was magnificent! The meat was done fantastically well with the adequate amount of spicing. The wraps do feel like they may lack garnish but by the end of the meal, I was pretty full. <br/><br/>They also bring you some tea before you leave. Cool huh? <br/><br/>All in all, super great meal. It's not a fancy place to go out to (which is why I'm not gonna rate them higher) but if you need good, tasty, honest, filling food then stop by and give these guys a try.

The staff is soo friendly, service is excellent and my word the food!!!!! 😳😳😳😳 amazing for my first time, definitely recommend it! Reasonable prices too...

This little Turkish restaurant in Rivonia is great for Sunday lunch, this is the first time I visited. And I was pleasantly surprised.<br/> <br/>Décor: neat but not amazing<br/>Service: Waiters have walkie talkies on them, to ensure that they can help each other with what customers need.<br/>Products: they have a variety of imported Turkish products for sale, eg, drinks, teas, and sauces, pickles, etc.<br/>Menu: Great for Value<br/> <br/>Food:<br/>- Beyti Kebab (garlic) – beef mince with garlic made into a strip type patty, served with chips and sides. Tasty tender.<br/>- Chicken chops kebab – I received 3 pieces of thighs, with chips and rice – the meat is tender and juicy and it is grilled crispy on the outside. Chips are fresh. It is very nice with all the sides. Can’t wait to go back for more.<br/>- Baklava – it was actually very nice, it is not too sweet.<br/>Sides: Naan bread, Sides of tomato salsa, yoghurt and fresh cut salad<br/> <br/>Every main meal you order, you will receive a complimentary tea, it is a nice touch, but the restaurant could consider serving it cold during summer instead of the hot tea?<br/>How can we resist ordering some Turkish drink, we were told that it is a “Turkish Sprite”, I guess that’s the best description they could do.<br/>In my opinion. This drink is like a cream soda and a sprite. It’s quite pleasant. I even bought more to take away.<br/>

Recommended by Facebook group, went Saturday. One of the best Turkish meals had outside of Turkey. Takeaway but ate in, service very good and authentic cuisine salads very fresh noted the Esme salad! No alcohol served but does a mean Turkish coffee.

Excellent value for money. The platter for 2 is enough for 3 people with leftovers. Free apple tea. Food is healthy...not oily/fried and very fresh

This is one of the new kids on the block in the area which is making a bit of a name for itself. The portion sizes are very generous and are value for money.  There is a wide variety of meals available here for meat eaters which is freshly prepared. However, there is not a large variety for vegetarians but I did finish my food as the variety was actually quite broad for the platter and very tasty. <br/><br/>The hummus and pita here is extremely enjoyable as it is well prepared with a dash of oil and spice. It is a pity they ran out as we would have had more.<br/><br/>The staff here need more training as the service is slow and they don't understand requests or the menu very well. Otherwise I will most certainly be back in the near future.<br/><br/>Give the apple or turkish tea a try accompanied with your meal.

Been to Istanbul a few times now, had the lamb kebab and lamb kofta wrap. Food is decent and reasonably priced. Portions are generous when you eat in but quite a bit smaller when packed for takeaway.

Istanbul serves very fresh, healthy and tasty meals all round. They've never disappointed. Pleasant waitrons and and speedy service. Would strongly recommend this terrific Turkish offering.

Great food, the kebabs and shawarma are fantastic. Avoid the special sauce on the shawarma not that great. The rest is good, love the way they bring the meat separate and you build you own shawarma

I'm not a fan of this type of food BUT I was pleasantly surprised. Visited for a lunch meeting and nibbled on some naan bread (delicious) whilst contemplating whether I wanted to eat there. Tucked into chicken cubes that was very good. <br/>Agree with other reviewers about the retarded service...but the simple setting, reasonable prices and good food will have me back.

We always drive passed this place so last week we thought we would try it out. To my surprise the portions were decent. I ordered beef kebab . The veg that came with it was fresh. The apple tea and Turkish tea served at the end was pleasant. I would go back again. <br/>

Today was the second time I tried Istanbul for take aways. <br/>I went with the Doner Kebab (full portion). <br/>The meat is super tasty and all other ingredients are fresh and flavourful. <br/>The chips are a bit boring, but you can liven them up a bit with the sauces they give you. <br/>The apple tea served to me while I waited for my meal was delicious. <br/>Will definitely be back again.

This is a refreshing new addition to Rivionia serving a true Istanbul style Kebab. You have to try this well presented delicious kebab. I always have the Apple Tea which is also served in Istanbul - it is a delicious accompaniment. They do not serve wine so enjoy the teas offer.

I was actually a big fan of this establishment, my family and I frequently frequented the first Istanbul than opened in Fordsburg... and really what was there not to like? Fordsburg is full of dinghy little holes like this where one can expect nothing better than to be served burnt meat, which for 40 rands per person, what more can you expect? We loved it. When the sister branch opened in Rivonia we were naturally excited not to have to travel all the way to the dirty South to get our Turkish kebab fix and we were not disappointed - they have the same staff serving the same food here!!! The only thing they have improved are there prices. Enjoy the authentic middle eastern experience guys!!! <br/>