Cafe Istanbul

turkish restaurant — Otumoetai · Tauranga

About Cafe Istanbul

Cafe Istanbul is a family-run Turkish restaurant in a small Cherrywood Drive shopping strip in Otūmoetai, Tauranga. Since modest beginnings in 2014 under owners Ali Sengezer and Suna Sengezer, the cafe has grown into a spot known for fresh, healthy food, friendly staff and fast service, set apart from other Turkish eateries with its beautiful decor.

The menu is built around a core set of proteins - chicken, lamb, mixed lamb and chicken, falafel, mujver and halloumi cheese - served across kebabs and wraps, open kebabs, rice dishes, chips meals, salad meals, burger meals and pilav ustu meals, each with a choice of sauces. Alongside these, the kitchen makes a full range of wood-fired-style pizzas, Turkish meze and sides, and a kids menu, plus hot drinks including Turkish coffee served with sweet Turkish delight.

Cafe Istanbul is licensed and also BYO wine only, with a house wine and beer list alongside spirits. Private dining is available on request, and the restaurant takes both dine-in and takeaway orders, with online ordering through its website.

Cafe Istanbul: Family-Run Turkish Dining in Otūmoetai, Tauranga

Tucked into a small Cherrywood Drive shopping strip in Otūmoetai, Cafe Istanbul has been serving Turkish food in Tauranga since modest beginnings in 2014 under owners Ali Sengezer and Suna Sengezer. The cafe set out to be something different from other Turkish eateries, with beautiful decor and friendly service alongside fresh, healthy food and fast service.

Built Around a Core Menu

Cafe Istanbul's menu is organised around a consistent set of proteins - chicken, lamb, a mixed lamb and chicken, falafel, mujver and halloumi cheese - each available across a range of formats. Kebabs and wraps come in flat bread with hummus, tabouleh and mixed salad; open kebabs and iskender rice dishes add jacik and beetroot dip; and the same proteins can be ordered as chips meals, salad meals, burger meals or pilav ustu rice meals. Diners can also upgrade any meal with a grilled chicken breast, köfte minced beef, or spicy Adana minced beef.

Pizzas, Meze and More

Beyond the kebab menu, Cafe Istanbul runs a full pizza list, from a Margherita and an Istanbul Vege topped with spinach and feta, through to a Meat Lovers loaded with chicken, lamb and bacon, and a Smoked Salmon pizza with spinach and capsicum. The meze and sides menu covers Turkish classics like a Mix Dip Plate with halloumi and sigara börek, hummus and jacik dip served with warm Turkish bread, and simple sides like fries and olive bread. A dedicated kids menu offers smaller pizzas in ham, tomato or chicken varieties.

Drinks and Dining Style

Alongside hot drinks - including a Turkish coffee served with sweet Turkish delight - Cafe Istanbul is licensed to serve house white and red wines, sparkling wine, and a beer list spanning Stella, Peroni, Corona, Steinlager, Speights, Heineken and Monteiths, plus spirits. The restaurant is also BYO for wine only, giving guests some flexibility.

A Genuine Family Feel

What stands out most in customer feedback is the family atmosphere - regulars describe being remembered by name and by their usual order, even years after moving away from Tauranga. The restaurant offers dine-in, takeaway and online ordering, plus private dining on request for larger groups or events.

Visiting Cafe Istanbul

Cafe Istanbul is open Tuesday to Sunday, with hours running from 11am to between 8pm and 9pm depending on the day, and is closed on Mondays. It's located at 3/47 Cherrywood Drive, Otūmoetai, Tauranga, and can be reached by phone or email for bookings, private dining enquiries, or general questions.

Signature items

  • Large Chicken Kebab
  • Istanbul Vege Pizza
  • Large Chicken Iskender
  • Grilled Chicken Breast

Menu

Pizzas

  • Chorizo — Chorizo sausage, mushroom, caramelised onion, mozzarella
  • Istanbul Vege — Spinach, mushroom, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella
  • Margherita — Tomatoes, basil pesto and mozzarella
  • Chicken Avocado — Chicken, avocado, red onion and mozzarella
  • Chicken Satay — Chicken with satay sauce, red onion and mozzarella, topped with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and garlic yoghurt
  • Lamb Feta — Lamb, feta, caramelised onion, mint and mozzarella
  • Ham — Ham, pineapple, mozzarella
  • Roast Vege — Roast vegetables with spinach, feta, mozzarella
  • Spicy Pepperoni — Pepperoni with tomatoes, olives, mozzarella
  • Bacon — Bacon, tomatoes, red onion, mushroom, mozzarella
  • Smoked Salmon — Smoked salmon with spinach, capsicum, mozzarella
  • Chicken Beetroot — Chicken, beetroot chutney, feta cheese, mozzarella
  • Salami — Salami, mushroom, capsicum, mozzarella
  • Meat Lovers — Chicken, lamb, bacon, mozzarella

Beer List

  • Beer Selection — Stella, Peroni, Corona, Steinlager (Pure, Classic), Speights Old Dark, Speights Mid Ale, Heineken, Heineken 00, Heineken Silver, Monteiths
  • Craft Beer — Craft beer selection available

Kids Menu

  • Kids Pizza - Ham and Mozzarella — Kids-sized pizza
  • Kids Pizza - Tomatoes and Mozzarella — Kids-sized pizza
  • Kids Pizza - Chicken and Mozzarella — Kids-sized pizza

Wine List

  • House White Wines — Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose
  • House Red Wines — Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
  • Sparkling Wines — Lindauer Pinot Gris, Rose, Brut

Hot Drinks

  • Flat White — Espresso coffee
  • Latte — Espresso coffee
  • Hot Chocolate — Hot chocolate
  • Long Black — Espresso coffee
  • Short Black — Espresso coffee
  • Turkish Coffee — Served with sweet Turkish delight
  • Tea — Hot tea
  • Apple Tea — Traditional Turkish apple tea

Chips Meals

  • Chips Meal — Served on fries with hummus, jacik, beetroot dip, mixed salad and choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Open Kebabs

  • Open Kebab — Served on flat bread with hummus, jacik, beetroot dip, mixed salad and choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Salad Meals

  • Salad Meal — Served with hummus, jacik, beetroot dip, mixed salad and choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Burger Meals

  • Burger Meal — Homemade burger bun with mixed salads, mayonnaise, tomato sauce and a side of fries; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Kebabs / Wraps

  • Kebab / Wrap — Flat bread wrap with hummus, tabouleh, mixed salad and choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Meze And Sides

  • Mix Dip Plate — Combination of three dips, halloumi cheese, sigara börek, falafel, with warm Turkish bread
  • Dolma Meze — Served with mixed salads and jacik dip
  • Falafel Meze — Served on a bed of hummus with sweet chilli and yoghurt sauce
  • Fries — Served with tomato and aioli sauces
  • Hummus — Served with warm Turkish bread
  • Beetroot Dip — Served with warm Turkish bread
  • Jacik Dip — Served with warm Turkish bread
  • Garlic Bread — Warm garlic bread
  • Olive Bread — Crushed black olives topped with feta cheese
  • Turkish Bread — Warm Turkish bread

Pilav Ustu Meals

  • Pilav Ustu Meal — Served on rice with choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Iskender / Rice Dish

  • Iskender / Rice Dish — Served on rice with hummus, jacik, beetroot dip, mixed salad and choice of two sauces; choose chicken, lamb, mixed, falafel, mujver or halloumi cheese

Grilled Meal Upgrades

  • Grilled Chicken Breast — Upgrade add-on for any meal
  • Köfte (Minced Beef) — Upgrade add-on for any meal
  • Adana (Minced Hot Spicy Beef) — Upgrade add-on for any meal

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cafe Istanbul located?
At 3/47 Cherrywood Drive, Otūmoetai, Tauranga 3110.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday 11am-8:30pm, Friday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-8pm. Closed Mondays.
Is Cafe Istanbul licensed or BYO?
It's licensed, and also allows BYO wine only.
Does the menu cater for allergies?
The kitchen lists allergens including dairy, nuts, gluten, sesame seeds and eggs; several sauces are marked gluten free and dairy free.
Is there a kids menu?
Yes, kids pizzas are available in ham, tomato, or chicken and mozzarella varieties.
Can I arrange private dining?
Yes, private dining is available - contact the restaurant by phone or email to arrange.
Who owns Cafe Istanbul?
Ali Sengezer and Suna Sengezer, who opened the cafe in 2014.

Tips

  • {"body":"Both are listed among the cafe's crowd pleasers.","title":"Try the Large Chicken Kebab or Iskender"}
  • {"body":"A combination of three dips, halloumi, sigara börek and falafel with warm Turkish bread.","title":"Ask about the Mix Dip Plate"}
  • {"body":"The restaurant is licensed but also allows guests to bring their own wine.","title":"BYO your own wine"}
  • {"body":"Private dining is available for groups - contact the restaurant to arrange.","title":"Book ahead for private dining"}

Good to know

  • {"family":"Kids menu available with smaller pizza options","dietary":"Allergens present include dairy, nuts, gluten, sesame seeds and eggs; several sauces marked gluten free and dairy free","payments":"Licensed, and also BYO wine only"}