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Istanbul Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
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Istanbul Hawaii

$31 to $50
Mediterranean

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 59 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
  • Vegetarian-friendly
In our Mediterranean & Hawaiian sanctuary, you become part of our ohana. Led by Chef Mom Nili, Baba Aydin, and Chef Ahu, you're invited on a culinary journey infused with Turkish and Mediterranean essences. Our recipes, a blend of diverse cultures, are nurtured with locally-sourced ingredients, reflecting the heart of our family-run and woman-led venture.

Every interaction, whether in our restaurant's warm embrace, the vibrant energy of local events, or amidst the rich array of farmers' lands, is cherished. Each meeting is a chance to intertwine stories, laughter, and a piece of our heritage.

Come, celebrate the art of dining with us, where every dish is a passage to the Mediterranean, caressed by the Hawaiian sun. We look forward to serving you, merging our narratives in meals that go beyond mere flavors. Here, every dining experience is an adventure, a discovery, and a celebration of togetherness, nurturing through food next to the Hawaiian ocean.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Mom Chef Nili and her daughter Chef Ahu

From the OpenTable editors: This three time Hale 'Aina Award-winning spot, one of the rare Turkish restaurants in all of Hawaii, comes from mother and daughter duo Nili Yildirim and Ahu Hettema, who recreate foods from their homeland. Go for the meze platters that look like works of art filled with dips, phyllo pastries, and sourdough pide and pair it with larger plates of local seafood and lamb chops all served in a a rustic space filled with colorful tagines and hanging herbs. Round out your meal with one of the exciting Mediterranean-inspired cocktails.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (808) 772-4440
  • Website
    http://www.istanbulhawaii.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Indulge in personalized dining experiences, from intimate dinners to lavish receptions, catered to perfection by our chefs. Elevate your event with our Istanbul cinema projector and enchanting garden trellis. On-site or off, create unforgettable moments with us. Discover and customize your experience at "Bespoke Events" on our website!
  • Private party facilities
    Craft unforgettable moments with our bespoke menus and dining experiences, tailored to your desires. From intimate dinners to grand receptions, every detail is perfected. Elevate your event with our Istanbul cinema projector and enchanting garden trellis. Your perfect occasion awaits. Customize your experience at "Bespoke Events" on our website!
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    1108 Auahi St, Honolulu, HI 96814
  • Area
    Honolulu
  • Cross Street
    Kamakee and Queen street
  • Parking details
    Enter Istanbul Hawaii parking lot from Queen street. Parking available at any Ward Village parking structure for our guests, including the Whole foods parking lot. Parking is free.
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

Featured in

Experiences

  • 1001 Nights Under Nā Hōkū w/ Zachary Engel & Galit

    US$95.00 per person

    21 Mar 2025 only
    "1001 Nights Under Nā Hōkū" is a refined farm-to-table dining series blending the mystique of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors with the elegance of Hawaiian nights. Each evening offers a 4-course tasting menu with premium wine pairings, curated by Chefs Nili, Ahu, and a guest chef, featuring sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients at Istanbul Hawaii. The series explores diverse culinary heritages, celebrating the shared and unique identities of each chef. With Michelin-starred and James Beard-nominated chefs as guests, every night promises an extraordinary culinary collaboration. Set under the stars, this experience tells a story of flavors, artistry, and a deep sense of place. Visit Our Website to View the Menu & Wine Pairing.
    1001 Nights Under Nā Hōkū w/ Zachary Engel & Galit photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 3,064 people are saying

Istanbul Hawaii reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Oahu

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Istanbul Hawaii offers an exceptional Mediterranean dining experience in Honolulu with "excellent food and service." Guests rave about the "inviting ambiance" and "delicious plant-based masterpieces" crafted by Chef Ahu Hettema and Chef Nili Yildirim. The restaurant's commitment to quality and innovation makes it a "highly recommended" destination.

3,064 Reviews

  1. Brittany

    Richmond2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The menu offers many options and in our experience all of them were delicious! Excellent value for the price point as well. Jidori chicken shish was a fan favorite during our meal.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Bryan

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What an amazing dinner! Server was attentive and went through the extensive menu, the food was seriously incredible - best mediterranean food we've ever had. Finished with their mint tea.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lorraine VIP

    Hawaii28 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely luncheon, quality food and attentive wait staff The covered veranda was perfect for the outdoor setting.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Maria VIP

    San Francisco12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was delicious and the staff was friendly and attentive. Always a great experience coming here that’s why we come back each time we are in Hawaii, bring and recommend to others as well.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Charlene VIP

    Tahoe8 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    The place was designed so that every time the front glass door opens in the late afternoon, the tables in the middle get blinded by the glare off the front door from the sun. Extremely uncomfortable, but the snarky hostess was very reluctant to change tables. The food was of mixed quality- the $40 mezze sampler had a good flatbread, but the spanakopita was soggy and bland, and the baba ganoush also lacked flavor. The hummus was the only delicious dish in the sampler . The lamb tenderloin kebob was very chewy and somewhat dry, but the Kofte was moist, tender, and flavorful. The noise level was deafening, with all hard surfaces in the room- people had to yell to be heard, so it appeared most guests were doing so.

    Is this helpful?

  6. AlMO

    Hawaii4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such great staff service and knowledge of the food. Listen to their recommendations and you can’t go wrong. Highly recommend Istanbul for diner.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Remus

    Vancouver4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We waited for almost 45 minutes despite having a reservation. The drinks and the food are super overpriced. Appies were excellent but the doner was meh at best. It does not leave up to the hype.

    Is this helpful?

  8. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service. Prices are reasonable and everyone was very informative about the various dishes

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jewell

    Hawaii3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Eva was a lovely server! As always the food was presented in a timely manner. The quality of ingredients spoke for themselves in taste! It was my first time coming in for lunch service and I enjoyed it. A bit louder than expected but still an enjoyable lunch.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Allure

    San Diego7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Maybe my expectations were too high for this restaurant, but one visit was enough for me. My friends and I, who went to dinner together, all felt the same way. Being from California, we might be spoiled by the many great Mediterranean restaurants there. Even small, unassuming restaurants back home have been far better than this one. That said, I did enjoy their cocktails—they were creative and delicious.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Istanbul Hawaii offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (808) 772-4440.

Istanbul Hawaii is rated 4.7 stars by 3064 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 59 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Istanbul Hawaii

1108 Auahi St, Honolulu, HI 96814

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Kamakee and Queen street
  • Area
    Honolulu
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Enter Istanbul Hawaii parking lot from Queen street. Parking available at any Ward Village parking structure for our guests, including the Whole foods parking lot. Parking is free.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://www.istanbulhawaii.com/
  • Phone number
    (808) 772-4440
  • Catering
    Indulge in personalized dining experiences, from intimate dinners to lavish receptions, catered to perfection by our chefs. Elevate your event with our Istanbul cinema projector and enchanting garden trellis. On-site or off, create unforgettable moments with us. Discover and customize your experience at "Bespoke Events" on our website!
  • Private party facilities
    Craft unforgettable moments with our bespoke menus and dining experiences, tailored to your desires. From intimate dinners to grand receptions, every detail is perfected. Elevate your event with our Istanbul cinema projector and enchanting garden trellis. Your perfect occasion awaits. Customize your experience at "Bespoke Events" on our website!

Featured in

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