Balıkçı Kahraman

Famed along the Bosphorus, this is the place to try kalkan - the Black Sea’s spiny turbot, revered by Istanbul’s fish-lovers. The interior is clean, white-walled, and brightened by photo-lined walls and nets overhead, giving a lived-in, local feel. We began with midye tava (fried mussels): crisp, light batter around sweet briny mussels, lifted by nutty-tangy tarator sauce - delightful, a 9/10. The fish kokoreç - a creative seafood twist on the Balkan offal dish - was less successful, lacking caramelisation (5.5/10). Redemption came with the kalkan, grilled and filleted at the table - succulent, clean, and full of flavour (8/10). A true Istanbul seafood institution.

Balıkçı Kahraman has built its reputation on outstanding seafood, and it truly delivers – from the freshness of the fish to the way every dish is cooked with care. Dining here is always a memorable experience. However, while the quality deserves praise, the prices are quite steep. For many customers, this makes it a place to visit occasionally rather than a regular go-to spot.

A seafood restaurant with a traditional fisherman’s ambiance, specializing in turbot. The appetizers are excellent, with the tomato salad being a standout. We ordered a 4kg turbot—while the flavor was great, it was slightly overcooked and dried out. The experience was enjoyable, but the price premium felt excessive for a taste that wasn’t significantly different from other quality seafood restaurant.

Overall, the experience was very enjoyable. The atmosphere was pleasant, the service was attentive, and the food was delicious. The salad, in particular, was absolutely outstanding — fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor, easily one of the highlights of the meal. That being said, the prices were on the higher side, which might be something to keep in mind. Also, the fish we ordered took longer to arrive than expected, which was a little disappointing given the otherwise smooth service. Still, the quality of the food and the overall dining experience made it worthwhile. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy fresh seafood and memorable flavors, this restaurant is definitely worth considering.

Finally, I was able to come back here again! Before the meal, we were served an onion and tomato salad, fried calamari, grilled calamari, lakerda, fried hamsi, and cornbread. The onion and tomato salad, rich in vinegar and olive oil, was unquestionably exquisite. The grilled calamari had a nice smoky aroma, and the cornbread was uniquely thin, hot, and tasty. For the main course, we obviously chose the turbot tandoori. As always, it was cooked to perfection with an amazing smoky scent. For dessert, we had quince dessert with cream (a bit tart), pumpkin dessert, and chocolate soufflé. The pumpkin dessert was especially good. And of course, we ended with thyme tea. This place is probably the best fish restaurant in Istanbul. It might be a bit pricey, but everything served is delicious and offers flavors that are hard to find elsewhere. The service quality is as friendly as a local diner but also very professional. I definitely recommend it.

Definitely the most delicious fisherman in Istanbul is Balıkçı Kahraman. You can't find the taste of Turbot Fish anywhere else. If you like seafood, definitely come here.

This michelin listed fish restaurant is located in a fisherman’s village at the northern end of the Bosphorus. They don’t serve too many appetizers, a beatifully balanced juicy tomato salad followed by fresh fish, mainly turbot grilled to perfection. Other type of fish is served on a seasonal basis. The service is good, the atmosphere is authentic and prices are on the high side. I am coming back🧿

This was the best, most fresh Kalkan I have ever tasted by far. The tekir and the calamari were also very fresh despite it being Ramadan. My only disappointment was that in observance of the holiday, they weren’t serving alcohol. Overall great restaurant.

Had a 3 hour dinner at this amazing restaurant last week...here are my thoughts: Ambiance is nothing special in terms of decor, but the restaurant is large and open which makes conversation easy. They can easily accommodate large parties. Service seems fine although nobody speaks English so definitely go with locals like we did who can facilitate ordering. Food is absolutely delicious. Our hosts ordered everything - and I mean everything. I highly recommend the grilled squid, the shrimp, tomato salad, turbot, cornbread, pickles, and the complimentary bread of course was fantastic. The eggplant was a miss for me (avoid). We also had lots of desserts and fruit as well. The watermelon was amazing but I can't comment on any of the other desserts as I didn't partake. I have no idea what the prices are like as I didn't pay for anything but I hear this place is really expensive. Definitely go with locals who speak the language to avoid any issues. Bottom line: I'll definitely return!