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Istanbul Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
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Istanbul Hawaii

$31 to $50
Mediterranean
1108 Auahi St, Honolulu, HI 96814

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 82 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Innovative
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

What 3,158 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
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Hawaii

    Healthy

  • Oahu

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Istanbul Hawaii offers a "must-visit" experience in Honolulu with vibrant, balanced Mediterranean flavors. Guests rave about the "warm, inviting" ambiance and impeccable service. Standout dishes include "fall-apart tender" lamb shish and "impressive" seafood. Enjoy generous portions, "creative" cocktails, and the "incredible" meze platter in a cozy, elegant setting.
3,157 Reviews
  1. Jeni VIP

    San Francisco32 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always great and still at the top of my favorite places to eat. I’m lucky to life close enough to walk there.

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  2. Penny

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It’s rare that every single dish on the table is a hit, but Istanbul Hawaii absolutely nailed it. From the starters to dessert, everything was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The shrimp dish and lamb shish were standouts — tender, perfectly seasoned, and memorable. The vibes were warm, inviting, and the service made us feel truly taken care of. A must-visit for anyone craving something special and truly unique in Honolulu!

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  3. brett

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A hidden gem in Honolulu — the flavors were vibrant, balanced, and unlike anything else in the city. Every plate felt intentional, with a clear sense of place and tradition. An inspiring take on Mediterranean dining.

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  4. Jolana

    Hawaii5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    I brought my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday. The hostess saw the note on the reservation and placed a sweet birthday note on the table for him. It was his first time coming to the restaurant so I was excited for him to try everything. The ambiance was great and the food was absolutely delicious! We got the meze platter which he LOVED the babaganush and su borek (my fave was the labne). He really enjoyed the wagyu ribeye shish and the shrimp tagliatelle that I order was soooo yummy. I told him that he MUST try the kunefe so we got that and baklava for dessert. The food and drinks were great but my only complaint for the evening was that our waiter didn’t acknowledge my boyfriend’s birthday at all. I was just sad that there wasn’t anything special and I wish I had brought a candle but I still sang happy birthday to him anyway. Main thing is that he had a great time, left with a full tummy, and enjoyed his birthday.

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  5. Elle VIP

    Wisconsin3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was amazing, the stylistic plates did make it difficult to cut things and in the outdoor seating area there is not any music so the sounds of other diners can be pretty loud. Overall the food was so delicious we will be going back.

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  6. Ruby

    Hawaii2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Servers polite and gracious. Loved the cozy, intimate restaurant with beautiful mural with Hawaiian theme and Japanese display of flowers and Japanese Lucky Cats. Loko moko was outstanding and corned beef eggs benedict a different and unique benedict. A nostalgic view of the chef and perhaps his wife and son working to prepare our food gave me an appreciation for people who strive to serve those who come to the their restaurant. Loved the unassuming, beautiful atmosphere of both people and environment while there. Really appreciate people who do work with passion, care and effort.

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  7. anna

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve lived on O‘ahu my whole life, and this place is something special. It’s not easy to find a restaurant that feels both elevated and comfortable, but they’ve nailed it here. The food is seriously delicious—bright, layered, and full of soul. I had the eggplant dip, the fish, and a pirzola dish that just melted. You can tell everything is made with care. Portions are big—like, bring-some-home big. I saw a few people online saying they’re small, and honestly, that’s wild to me. I couldn’t even finish my plate. What I loved most is how the staff treats you—with real aloha. It doesn’t feel like a trendy spot trying too hard. It feels like a place that knows exactly who it is. If you love Mediterranean food (or even if you think you don’t), this is one of those spots you keep coming back to.

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  8. aaron

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 22 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best meals I’ve had on the island in a long time. This Mediterranean spot gets it right—flavorful, fresh, and clearly made with a lot of heart. Every dish feels generous and well-balanced. The dips are bright and bold, the seafood is perfectly cooked, and the lamb is fall-apart tender. Also—let’s talk portions. They’re huge. I saw a few reviews complaining they were too small, and honestly, that’s wild. Unless you’ve got an unusually big appetite, you’ll leave full and happy (and probably with leftovers). The vibe is welcoming but still has a touch of elegance that fits Hawai‘i perfectly. Service is gracious, attentive, and just the right pace. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and savor everything. A real gem.

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  9. Jerry

    Miami - Dade3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 22 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was delicious! Pricing is a bit high for the portions.

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  10. Inesa

    Portland1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 18 May 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was good till when they automatically took 22% from our tab. Never was mentioned that they would. While i would have left a tip myself i believe in me choosing the amount i leave

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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 3158 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Hawaii
  4. Oahu
  5. Honolulu

Make a booking


Booked 82 times today
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
  • Phone number
  • 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!
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