Balikci Sabahattin

the starters are delicious, the seafood is fresh, everything is well cooked and seasoned. the staff are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is comfortable. overall a very enjoyable meal

Balıkçı Sabahattin is undoubtedly one of the iconic seafood restaurants in Cankurtaran. The food is simply amazing, with authentic and delicious flavors that reflect the richness of Turkish seafood cuisine. The service is more than fantastic — attentive, professional, and welcoming. However, it is important to note that the pricing is extremely high, even by Istanbul’s fine dining standards. While the quality is undeniable, the overall value for money might leave some guests hesitant. Still, for those seeking an excellent seafood experience with impeccable service, it’s worth visiting — just be prepared for the bill.

Balıkçı Sabahattin is a local Turkish restaurant specializing in fish. During summer time they serve dinner at the terrace with a fantastic set up and lovely breeze. Service is friendly and somehow are limited in English and I believe they should improve in the communication of the fresh fish of the day, maybe with price tags, to avoid miscommunications. The food was really good from the starters with superb salads and fried super fresh squid or prawns to the main super fresh sea bass fish perfectly well cooked. Lovely place that absolutely we will repeat in another visit In Istanbul.

The place is very nice with good food. The calamari was slightly overcooked and so was one of the fishes. The tiger prawns were really out of this world!

Very good quality and classic and good taste of the meals. However on our visit, the service was very slow and not attentive.

Love!! We came for lunch and it was pretty empty so we got great service. Love the grilled octopus especially. They gave us olives on the house, and came by with a tray of appetizers to pick. Edit: we came back the next day for dinner. Still great, we got a salad with tomatoes, greens and feta, and I recommend that one. Ambiance was great at night, with more people. Pasha, the parrot, is friendly and funny.

We were invited here by local Turkish gentlemen after we purchased carpets from their shop, very kind of them to do after the fact, we met up the next day so they could show us true "local" fish. Excellent food, the grilled seabass and what we called fried sardines arranged in a big circular fry, most excellent to eat bones and all. An array of starters; too many to name and very interesting desserts of a variety never tried before. Pumpkin, quince, apricot with ice cream. We didn't pay, our hosts kindly did, and there seemed to be an awful lot of counting of bills quietly to the side. They need a USD100 bill equivalent in Turkey!

Incredible atmosphere. They don’t dress up your fish too much, it’s cooked fresh and served with a bit of lemon. Mine was cooked perfectly, and they de boned it for me at the table. The starters and desserts, which came with fruit, were amazing. This is my face after eating the food.

This place was recommended by our foodie walking tour guide and proved to be a great place for dinner. Was near the tourist sites but seemed to be visited largely by the locals so you know you are getting something authentic. Had the olives with a tomato pate, a type of or similar to a green bean dish, fresh roasted fish, a sizzling shrimp dish and bread. All delicious and a place we highly recommend.

Located inside a restored 1927 mansion Balıkçı Sabahattin is considered by some to be Istanbul's best Restaurant for Fish, a strong claim since the city so close to the Black Sea, Marmara and Bosphorus offers a wide range of Seafood from street carts to spots under the bridge and in every neighborhood. Just a stone's throw from Hagia Sophia and the Egyptian Market, a shaded alley down some stairs leading to its entrance, guests at Balıkçı Sabahattin will find white tablecloths plus a concise menu focused almost entirely on a seasonal local catch. Still a family business, a fisherman named Sabahattin Korkmaz relocating his father's Restaurant to the space over fifty-five years ago, it is shortly after seating that warm Bread and Olives are served along with complimentary filtered Water, local Wine and Soft Drinks. Expensive by Turkish standards, though 1285 Lira for an upscale Lunch for four is a bargain compared to America or Europe, Meze and Appetizers include the likes of Sea Bass Ceviche and Fish Borek that each arrive in shareable portions. A quiet place with friendly service and an English-fluent staff Entrees include whole Fish sold by the kilogram in addition to composed dishes such as spicy Fener Kavurma served sizzling in stone and tender aromatic Rice loaded with Mussels plus Raisins.

The fish was OK, the salad was just a few leaves, and there was one small piece of boiled potato. Pretty meager or any restaurant. But at these prices it was a bit outrageous. When I finished, my plate was collected quickly. However the waiter did not reappear even though they were just a few other customers in the restaurant and several other servers. When I finally got the bill, there was a charge for water I did not order and an additional charge for the table, silverware, etc. So the price was quite high. I recommend that you avoid this place.

Indulge in a delightful dining experience with an inviting ambiance and a diverse array of small plates. Our personal favorite? The delightful cold sea bass with its delicate dill flavor. For our main course, we couldn't resist the fresh fried fish with its light and crispy coating. Perfect for a special celebration, we highly recommend this eatery for your next special occasion.

Quality seafood! Simplistically executed! Fabulous setting! Wonderful service! Decent pricing! If I lived in Istanbul I'd frequent this establishment often.

Amazing food. The best I had in Istanbul. Every dish was unbelievably delicious, and the space is beautiful as well!

Okay forget the fact that I can't even pronounce the name, this place is pretty swank. Firstly, it's a little hard to find. But you may already know that. Once you eventual do find it you will be greeted by a serious display of the day's catch- Branzino- sea bass, mullet, prawns, dorado, turbot, which had, and others I am not sure of. All packed in ice. You decide on the fish and they clean and cook it. Fried and grilled over charcoal are your choices. They start you off with mezze, which today were Spinach in golden raisin, fava bean with fresh herb, fried zucchini in yogurt sauce, grilled bread with olive oil and something like harissa, marinated sea bass, great calamari, and rocket salad. This place is a short walk from the Hagia Sophia, and not a tourist trap. Highly recommended.

Wonderful fish restaurant down the hill from the Sultanahmet area. Two of us enjoyed the very fresh and perfectly prepared sea bass, while the third in our party had the Bonito. Also well prepared. We ate outside but under cover and heat. A bottle of Turkish red wine (karaci grape) was a great accompaniment. I was a little concerned about the selection, as it was aged for two years in oak and was 15% abv. But the server said taste it and if you don't like it I'll bring you a bottle of something else. The well was well balanced and not heavy, nor hotly alcoholic like some wines can be with that abv. Highly recommended overall.

Best lamb kabob I have ever had in my life...it was spectacular! Everyone that worked there were super friendly and provided excellent service. My friend and I will be back in a couple days.

Super fresh fish, cooked perfectly with attentive friendly service, makes this place worth the price. Granted we were here in October when the produce was at its peak, but the seasonal salad was excellent. The hot appetizers were superb. My wife is not a fan of fish but the mezza and salad were enough for her.The food was so good we had to go twice during our stay.

I've had seafood in different restaurants in Istanbul but this was one of the best I've had. I had the snapper and tiger prawns. The snapper was seasoned and grilled to perfection. Same goes for the prawns. They are big enough portions to be satisfied but not enough to leave on a full stomach. They do have sides and bread but I did not have any. Location is very friendly and attentive. They have a covered sitting area where smoking is not allowed and an outdoor seating area where smoking is allowed. The location is little difficult to find but well worth the search.

Sabahattin occupies a cozy old house just a short walk down toward the sea from the Hippodrome. It came highly recommended from the staff at our hotel (http://bit.ly/15ietbM) as the best seafood in Istanbul. This is a place where the food takes the center stage and not the surroundings. They are known for their Turbot - I didn't know what Turbot was until the gentleman held up the fish for me to take a picture (a bumpy little thing - he kinda looked like a wide snapper), so I could send it to my best friend's husband who is in the seafood business. It's a flavorful fish found in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Seas. They have a variety of mezes - a little less to choose from than some of the other restaurants, but these were definitely crafted with a lot of thought. We enjoyed the anchovy, shrimp, gelfite and the usual yogurt mezes. For dinner we shared a whole fish, which was served with rice and vegetables. Not being a HUGE fish fan, none of this really impressed me. I didn't stave though - dessert was right up my alley. They truly have the most interesting selections of dessert I've ever imagined: Nut Zucchini, Apricot with Cream, Quince with Cream, and I had the Semolina with Cream. No --- not flour with cream, this was like a heavenly, ultra creamy, rich dessert with a tasty semolina crust. It was devine. Top that off with a glass of Reki (or two) and you have a meal, my friend. Mr. Sabahattin was sitting at a table by himself while things were winding down in his restaurant. I excused myself for a moment and came back to Mr. SS9 striking up a conversation, sharing a bowl of cherries with him. It was classic! For the true fish connoisseur, this place is a haven. You must not miss it, if you can get reservations.

This restaurant was recommended in one of the guide books I had for a great seafood place. It definitely has a large seafood menu, but I think the prices were a bit high for what it is. It's more of a fancier joint, though you can dress casual. The waiters are professional and accommodating. For example, they allowed us to pay for half of a wine bottle since we didn't finish the whole thing. I like that this spot did not feel touristy, though, and the spot definitely has some charm. If you are looking for traditional and a little nicer of an occasion, this would be a good choice.

The food here is amazing! We had the shrimp stew and the snaper fish, they were both very good. The fish was the best ive ever had grilled!!! Despite there were bones, it was easy to pick out. The only thing we were confused about was the extra service charge 5tl per person which was added to our bill without telling us or saying anything on the menu. Overall the service was okay. It was not terrible but not fantastic. The food is totally worth visiting again.

This was our most disappointing meal during our trip to Turkey. I had several people strongly recommend it, but I'm not really sure what they were thinking. Service was poor and achingly slow even by European standards. Food and wine were overpriced, and there was very little that I could eat as a vegetarian which is unusual in Turkey. After eating my decent eggplant dip, I got to sit around and watch my husband eat a $35 dollar fish. Sure it was fresh, but there was very little done to it. No one offered to de-bone it for him when it was brought to the table. At least there were plenty of kitties roaming around our table. They loved the fish head and tail pieces!

Recommended by a local friend, Balikci S. Includes a hard working staff, comfortable atmosphere, and delicious food. If seafood is not for you, ask for the terra options. Your memories of dining here may be second only to your love of Istanbul.

Best fresh fish in Istanbul. If you want some traditional turkish dishes this is the best place to go in Turkey. Most weekend nights it is impossible to get a table. The fish preparation is pristine. The founder who started selling cooked fish on a bicycle, came to our table and shared raki with our fun group. The service, the food, and the atmosphere was awesome. The only downside is it is hard to find if you're not a local.

This place is EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL! We called hours in advance to let them know we will be there by 11pm (they close at midnight) and they told us to come and that we would have plenty of time even if we came by 11:30. We took a taxi from our hotel to get there (about 20 minutes) and arrived by 11. We get to the door and the same guy on the phone tells us their cook closed the kitchen and they can't serve us. Incredibly UNPROFESSIONAL. I hope they see this review and fix their customer service because it is extremely poor.

It is a good place go have great lunch or dinner. Fish is fresh and wild. Appetizers are easy and delicious. Go and get tasty experience! Thank you! We like all we eat very much! :)

We stumbled upon this special place tucked away in the Sultan Ahmet district in the midst of older homes, abandoned homes, and cobble stone streets. Absolutely the BEST fish and shrimp! Freshness is incomparable. Meals do not use too many spices - you can taste the fish itself. Note: fish do have a lot of small bones - choices range from sea bass to grouper to mulles to tourbot and then some exotic native to the region: loufer, etc. Our fav were the prawns, loufer and the sea bass! Service was very good.

The fresh fish is delicious and a welcome change from everyday fare. The mazes and desserts (try the halvah with ice cream) are also quite good. However, the service was quite rude. The waiter grabbed our dishes before we were done and barked at us that the next dish was waiting. Compound this with the fact that most of what we ordered was not available and the touristy atmosphere (not a local to be seen) of the restaurant, the overall impression was poor.

Off the beaten path, at least a little bit, is a hidden gem for seafood lovers. This restaurant impresses with upper class ambiance (the waiters are wearing dress shirts and bow ties, the decor is stylish and cozy) and delicious food. We ordered the eggplant salad and the fried calamari as starters and got deliciously spicy, flavorful dried-tomato and pepper paste with olive oil on the house and it was fantastic. The menus lets you choose from roundabout 10 kinds of fish (priced between 30 and 60 TLY) and our selection of sea bass and snapper did not disappoint. The fish comes grilled to perfection and buttery as can be (without being buttered, I should add), accompanied only by some arugula leaves and a slice of potato. But you will definitely not miss any sides, the fish tastes to-die-for! There's plenty of outside seating (they have blankets too, when it gets chilly) and you can pay with credit card (tips are cash-only) and I would strongly recommend coming here (if you are strong enough not to give into the temptations of the other, more-flashy looking restaurants you have to pass to get here with their rooftop terraces etc). A great, cozy, classy spot with excellent food!

Hate the service. The fries calamary is really good. Grilled Sea bass is just nothing special. Don't know why the reviews on yelp are so good.

A wonderful night went awry when my sister and I stepped into this recommended restaurant for our last night out in Istanbul. Despite the initial warm welcome, we experienced the worst service of our lives. Obviously the waiter was capable of appropriate service- he lavished it on all the diners around us- but when it came to our table we could hardly keep our jaws from dropping in response to the absurdity of the situation. We were rushed to pick our entrees and then, when not even nearly done with them we were pressured to order our main course, at which time the server barely looked at us while we ordered- he was already on to another table (it was NOT a busy night- there were maybe 5 tables in our section and no turnover during the 2 hours we were there) Then, after being pushed to order our food we waited 30 minutes to get it. The fish plates arrived via a sideways toss as the waiter passed by- disappearing before we could verify he got the correct fish, or ask for help with deboning. After staring in dismay our dinner and how it was served to us, we decided to start eating and try to salvage the evening. Halfway through our meal the server stopped by and asked if we wanted him to remove the bones. At this point he prepared out half-eaten fish and offered us olive oil and fresh pepper. Without any hint of finding it odd to interrupt someone's meal to provide a service that should've been done (or at least offered) 20 minutes earlier. Most of all I am upset that this experience marred my last night out with my sister- whom I see very rarely- and that we wasted time here when we could've been having a positive Istanbul experience. Towards the end of the meal the waiter copped on to the fact that we were upset and offered to buy us a coffee- we couldn't stand being victim to his service any longer and a coffee doesn't buy back a ruined restaurant experience. Avoid at all costs.

We had seen the Yelp Reviews, but were headed for another restaurant (which we found closed for Ramadan), and luckily, we found out way back to this hidden gem. The service was excellent, and the food was some of the best we had during our stay in Istanbul. The fish was very fresh, and the starters were great. We were dressed casually, and did not feel out of place - even though it is a white tablecloth restaurant. We sat on the terrace, and there was plenty of other tables available, but they quickly filled as the evening progressed.

Traditional Turkish starters, followed by incredibly fresh fish, served whole. Loved every bite.

A very clean and good restaurant, try the rice with masel it's more than delicious, try also the calamari & the sea bass. I highly recommend as one of the best fish restaurant in Istanbul

Hard to find but we'll worth the effort. Great meal. Very fresh. Service is excellent.

Well if you are in Istanbul, you must come and try the fish here. Amazing, quaint, classy, and the service is fantastic. Stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel near by and they recommended this restaurant. You must come and try it...

The food in here is good. The environment of this restaurant is very interesting. An open roof dining. We came with friend who has been doing business in Istanbul. 7 of us. A great night in this restaurant.

Pretty decent seafood. Very fresh and cooked with little of no sauce/spices. It is well recommended by locals and expats. My wife and I visited based on a recommendations from friends that lived in the city...so it was wroth although the food taste wasn`t particular one of the best, but can`t day more about freshness

Good food in Istanbul. A nice, clean classy restaurant with good service. Difficult to find..tucked away in a side alley without much street lighting, but definitely worth the kind of sketchy walk. Fresh, local food. Definitely didn't seem like a tourist spot since everyone there looked like a local. The waiter was patient with us and brought out the raw fishes for us to see and explain how they cooked. We ordered 2 of their big fish dishes to split amongst 5 people along with a few side dishes, all of which were very good. They deboned it as best as they could as well.