Istanbul Grill’s & Cafe

About Istanbul Grill’s & Cafe

Istanbul Grill's & Cafe has been a fixture of Kampong Glam since 2009, when it opened on Baghdad Street with a simple goal: to bring the bold, honest flavours of Turkish cooking to Singapore. Nearly two decades on, it has grown into a landmark of the Arab Street food scene, drawing families, locals and travellers with hearty plates, warm hospitality and a room that guests describe as clean, cool and welcoming.

The menu is generously Turkish. It opens with cold and hot mezze — hummus, smoky baba ganoush, cacik, salsa ezme, yaprak sarma, falafel and sigara börek — before moving to the charcoal grills that anchor the kitchen: Adana and shish kebabs, izgara köfte, lamb chops and mixed grill platters built for sharing. Middle Eastern mandi dishes, traditional casseroles like güveç and testi kebab, Turkish-spiced steaks and a seafood selection round out the list, with fresh pita and balloon lavash baked in-house.

While staying true to Turkish tradition, the kitchen also caters to local tastes with vegetarian options and lighter, healthier choices, and asks guests to flag any dietary needs or allergies. Open daily from 11:00 to 23:30, with online ordering and reservations, it sits right on the street corner less than 100 metres from Sultan Mosque — an easy stop for a long mezze lunch, a celebratory grill feast, or a quiet dinner that the team hopes leaves every guest feeling they've had a little piece of Istanbul.

Istanbul Grill's & Cafe: Turkish Charcoal Grills and Mezze on Baghdad Street, Singapore

On a corner of Baghdad Street in Kampong Glam, a short stroll from the golden dome of Sultan Mosque, Istanbul Grill's & Cafe has been cooking Turkish food for Singapore since 2009. The restaurant opened with one simple goal — to bring the bold, delicious flavours of Turkish cuisine straight to Singapore — and nearly two decades later it stands as a self-described landmark of the Arab Street food scene, a place where families, locals and tourists gather for meals that, in the team's words, warm the heart.

From a small shop to an Arab Street landmark

The restaurant's first home was on Baghdad Street in the Arab Street quarter, a neighbourhood the team describes as lively, colourful and full of history, with the aroma of spices in the air. It started small, but word spread quickly. Families, locals and travellers came for hearty, comforting food and stayed for the atmosphere, and over time Istanbul Grill's & Cafe became more than a restaurant — a place to gather, laugh and share stories over a meal. Today, the kitchen still runs on fresh ingredients, honest cooking and warm hospitality, and every plate is meant to carry a story of care, flavour and dedication: a little piece of Istanbul, served in Singapore.

What the kitchen is known for

The menu runs deep. Many meals begin the Turkish way, with cold mezze: creamy hummus, smoky baba ganoush and moutabbal, cooling cacik, zesty salsa ezme, carrot tarator and yaprak sarma — tender grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs. The Istanbul Meze Platter gathers them all with warm lavash for the table. Hot appetisers follow: golden falafel, crispy sigara börek filled with feta and herbs, grilled halloumi and a comforting bowl of lentil soup.

Charcoal grills are the heart of the house. Adana kebabs of spiced minced lamb or chicken, shish skewers, izgara köfte meatballs, smoky grilled wings and marinated lamb chops all come off the coals, alongside patlican kebab layered with roasted eggplant and beyti kebab wrapped in flatbread. Mixed grill platters sized for two, three or four turn any dinner into a celebration. Middle Eastern favourites include lamb and chicken mandi — slow-cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender over aromatic mandi rice — with group platters for two or four. Traditional dishes such as güveç casserole, alinazik, karniyarik, moussaka, Saray (Sultan) kebab and the theatrical testi kebab, sealed and slow-cooked in a clay pot, share the menu with Turkish-spiced tomahawk and Istanbul steaks, and a From Ocean selection of octopus, salmon fillet, calamari and fish & chips. Fresh pita and balloon lavash come warm from the oven for scooping up every dip.

The experience

Guests rate the restaurant 4.8 out of 5 across more than 4,900 reviews, and the same themes surface again and again: friendly, genuine service, a clean and cool room, and food that exceeds expectations. Reviewers name staff members who recommended well, helped with photos and made birthdays memorable. Many point to the location — right on the street corner, easy to find, less than 100 metres from Sultan Mosque — and Muslim reviewers frequently call it a must-visit.

While staying true to Turkish tradition, the kitchen also caters to Singapore tastes with vegetarian options and lighter, healthier choices, and the menu invites guests to advise of any dietary needs or food allergies.

Plan your visit

Istanbul Grill's & Cafe opens daily from 11:00 to 23:30 at 25 Baghdad Street, Singapore 199664. Tables can be reserved online, orders placed through the restaurant's online ordering page, and the full menu is published on the website. Whether it's a long mezze lunch, a mixed grill with friends or a mandi platter for the whole table, the goal remains the one the team set in 2009: every guest leaves happy, full, and feeling like they've experienced a little piece of Istanbul.

Signature items

• Mixed Grill Platter
• Testi Kebab
• Istanbul Meze Platter
• Lamb Mandi
• Tomahawk Steak
• Adana Kebab

Menu

Salads

• Çoban Salad — Traditional Turkish shepherd's salad of greens, cucumber, tomato, onion and peppers.
• Greek Salad — Cucumber, tomato, bell peppers, Kalamata olives and feta with olive oil and lemon.
• Tabouleh Salad — Finely chopped parsley, couscous, tomatoes and onions in olive oil and lemon.
• Beetroot Salad — Roasted beets with fresh greens, crisp vegetables and a light, tangy dressing.
• Fattoush Salad — Crisp greens, vegetables and toasted flatbread in a zesty lemon and sumac dressing.
• Gavurdagi Walnut Salad — Turkish salad of greens, vegetables and crunchy walnuts in a parsley-olive oil dressing.
• Avocado Salad — Creamy avocado with halloumi sticks, Japanese cucumber, tomatoes and bell peppers.
• Olive & Cheese Salad — Kalamata olives and creamy feta, lightly drizzled with olive oil.

Steaks

• Tomahawk Steak (700-800gr) — Thick-cut steak in Turkish spices and herbs, with rice or fries and basil sauce.
• Istanbul Steak (250-300gr) — Tender grilled cut in aromatic Turkish spices, with rice or fries and basil sauce.

Side Dishes

• French Fries — Crispy golden fries, lightly seasoned.
• Homemade Yogurt — In-house yogurt made the traditional way — smooth and naturally tangy.
• Pilav Rice — Fluffy Turkish fragrant rice cooked with butter and aromatic spices.
• Mandi Rice — Aromatic long-grain rice cooked with a special blend of spices.

Hot Appetisers

• Falafel — Crispy chickpea patties seasoned with herbs and spices, served with house-made dips.
• Sigara Börek — Golden pastry rolls filled with feta cheese and fresh herbs, fried until crunchy.
• Halloumi Cheese — Grilled semi-firm cheese, crispy outside and tender inside.
• Assorted Hot Mezze — Sharing platter of falafel, sigara böreği and yaprak sarma.
• Hummus Lamb — Creamy hummus topped with tender, spiced lamb.
• Lentil Soup — Comforting red lentil soup simmered with herbs and spices, traditional Turkish style.

Turkish Grills

• 1 Pax Set A Kebab — Charcoal-grilled chicken and lamb Adana skewers with pilav, mandi rice and salad.
• 1 Pax Set B Kebab — Charcoal-grilled chicken and lamb shish skewers with pilav, mandi rice and salad.
• Lamb Adana Kebab — Minced lamb with traditional spices, charcoal-grilled, with pilav and mandi rice.
• Chicken Adana Kebab — Spiced minced chicken grilled over charcoal with pilav, mandi rice and salad.
• Izgara Kanat (Grilled Chicken Wings) — Juicy marinated chicken wings over charcoal, with pilav, mandi rice and salad.
• Izgara Köfte (Lamb Grilled Meatballs) — Seasoned lamb meatballs charcoal-grilled, with pilav, mandi rice and house salad.
• Chicken Shish Kebab — Marinated chicken cubes charcoal-grilled, with pilav, mandi rice and house salad.
• Lamb Shish Kebab — Tender marinated lamb cubes over charcoal, with pilav, mandi rice and house salad.
• Lamb Chops — Lamb chops marinated in Turkish spices and charcoal-grilled, with pilav and mandi rice.
• Patlican Kebab (Chicken) — Minced kebab meat layered with roasted eggplant, charcoal-grilled, with pilav and fries.
• Patlican Kebab (Lamb) — Minced kebab meat layered with roasted eggplant, charcoal-grilled, with pilav and fries.
• Beyti Kebab (Chicken) — Spiced minced meat wrapped in flatbread and grilled, with tomato sauce, butter and yogurt.
• Beyti Kebab (Lamb) — Spiced minced meat wrapped in flatbread and grilled, with tomato sauce, butter and yogurt.
• Mixed Grill Platter (2 Pax) — Adana kebabs, shish skewers and lamb chops with rice, fries and salad.
• Mixed Grill Platter (3 Pax) — Chicken and lamb Adana and shish plus three lamb chops with rice, fries and salad.
• Mixed Grill Platter (4 Pax) — Adana, shish, four lamb chops and Izgara Kanat with rice, fries and salad.

Cold Appetisers

• Hummus — Creamy chickpea and tahini dip with olive oil and lemon, served with warm pita.
• Baba Ganoush — Smoky roasted eggplant dip blended with tahini and garlic, with warm pita.
• Moutabbal — Roasted eggplant and tahini dip with garlic and olive oil, with fresh pita.
• Cacik — Refreshing Turkish yogurt dip with cucumber, garlic and fresh herbs, with pita.
• Salsa Ezme — Finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs with olive oil and lemon.
• Carrot Tarator — Zesty dip of grated carrot, homemade yogurt, garlic and olive oil, with pita.
• Yaprak Sarma — Grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs and spices, slow-cooked and drizzled with olive oil.
• Istanbul Meze Platter — Hummus, baba ganoush, moutabbal, cacik, carrot tarator and ezme with warm lavash.

Homemade Breads

• Pita Bread — Soft, warm, lightly baked Turkish flatbread with a delicate texture.
• Balloon Bread (Lavash) — Light, airy bread with a fluffy interior and golden, crisp exterior.
• Garlic Bread — Toasted pita brushed with garlic and herb butter, baked to golden perfection.

From Ocean Seafoods

• Fish & Chips — Golden crispy battered fish with fluffy chips and tangy dipping sauce.
• Calamari — Tender squid rings lightly battered and fried crisp, with zesty dipping sauces.
• Octopus — Marinated octopus grilled to a smoky finish, with rice or fries and basil sauce.
• Salmon Fillet — Fresh salmon fillet lightly seasoned and grilled, with rice or fries and basil sauce.
• Pangasius Fillet — White fish fillet served with a choice of rice or fries.

Middle Eastern & Arabian

• Lamb Mandi — Slow-cooked lamb shank over aromatic mandi rice with greens and house sauces.
• Chicken Mandi — Slow-cooked marinated chicken on fragrant mandi rice with brown and spicy sauces.
• Mandi Platter (2 Pax) — Lamb shank and grilled half chicken with mandi rice, fries and green vegetables.
• Mandi Platter (4 Pax) — Two lamb shanks and two grilled half chickens with mandi rice, fries and greens.

Turkish Traditional Dishes

• Güveç — Slow-cooked meat and vegetables sealed under bread layers; chicken, lamb or beef.
• Alinazik — Smoky roasted eggplant puree topped with spiced grilled lamb, butter and warm pita.
• Karides Güveç (Shrimp Casserole) — Succulent shrimp with seasonal vegetables in a rich, savoury sauce.
• Karniyarik — Eggplants stuffed with vegetables and tomatoes, baked in savoury sauce; chicken, lamb or vegetarian.
• Moussaka — Layers of eggplant, spiced vegetables and tomato sauce topped with cheese; chicken, lamb or vegetarian.
• Saray Kebab (Sultan Kebab) — Marinated meat with vegetables over mashed potatoes, oven-baked with special sauce; chicken, lamb or beef.
• Testi Kebab — Marinated meat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sealed clay pot; chicken, lamb or beef.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Istanbul Grill's & Cafe located?

At 25 Baghdad Street, Singapore 199664, in Kampong Glam on the Arab Street quarter — a street-corner spot less than 100 metres from Sultan Mosque.

What are the opening hours?

The restaurant is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 23:30.

Can I make a reservation?

Yes. Table reservations can be made online through the restaurant's booking page, or you can call ahead.

Can I order online?

Yes, online ordering is available via the restaurant's ordering site, and the full menu can be viewed on its website.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes. Alongside the grills, the menu offers vegetarian dishes and lighter, healthier choices, such as falafel, hummus, vine leaves and vegetarian karniyarik or moussaka.

Is it suitable for Muslim diners?

Muslim reviewers frequently recommend the restaurant and call it a must-visit; it is a popular spot for family and celebration meals.

Can the restaurant accommodate allergies or dietary needs?

The menu asks guests to advise the team of any dietary needs or food allergies, and dishes can be discussed with staff when ordering.

Tips

• {"body":"The restaurant sits right on the street corner at 25 Baghdad Street, under 100 metres from Sultan Mosque — easy to find on a Kampong Glam walk.","title":"Look for the corner near Sultan Mosque"}
• {"body":"Mixed grill and mandi platters are built for groups of two to four, making celebrations and family dinners easy.","title":"Come with a crowd"}
• {"body":"Reviewers repeatedly praise the service and name servers who gave great recommendations — don't hesitate to ask what's best today.","title":"Ask the team for picks"}
• {"body":"Reservations and online ordering are both available on the website, handy for securing a table during busy dinner hours.","title":"Book or order ahead"}
• {"body":"The menu asks guests to flag dietary needs or food allergies, so mention them when you order.","title":"Tell them about allergies"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Family-friendly with sharing platters sized for 2, 3 or 4 diners.","dietary":"Vegetarian options and lighter choices available; advise staff of any allergies."}