Isokyo

My daughter and her husband invited us to have dinner at this very elegant and upscale Japanese restaurant. It’s located inside Raffles Istanbul Hotel. They ordered so much food and all of it tasted very good. Beside the Sushi, most of the orders were appetizers and not main dishes. At the end, I had a surprise late birthday cake.

I went to Isokoyo at Raffles Istanbul not knowing what to expect, and I was completely blown away. It’s a Japanese restaurant with a creative twist, and every single dish we ordered was fantastic. The chefs were amazing and the whole experience far exceeded my expectations. Some standout dishes were the calamari, the bone marrow and beef tartare, and for dessert, the baklava with matcha – all absolutely unforgettable. Honestly though, every plate was executed perfectly. From start to finish, everything was flawless, and I can easily say this is one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Istanbul. Highly recommend!

This restaurant is located under the Raffles Hotel. We had the tasting menu and the whole experience was amazing. The starters were incredibly flavorful and really opened up our appetite. The portions were generous—actually more than enough for two people. By the end of the meal, we were so full we couldn’t even fully enjoy the final beef dish. At the time we went, the tasting menu was priced around $100 for two people, which felt like a great deal considering the quality and experience. Due to changes in currency value, I’d recommend checking with the hotel for the latest price. It’s definitely a perfect spot if you’re planning a date or celebrating something special.

The food was wonderful, and thankfully, the hotel was also very luxurious. We'd like to thank the chef and all the staff for their professional service, and the warm welcome extended to the staff member on the front desk of the restaurant Ms Ace . Thank you, Raffles Hotel team.

Our server Ali was fantastic. He walked us through the menu and was very helpful and informative. The drinks were good and the food delicious. I recommend the scallop and chicken and rice!

My partner and I went for dinner on Valentine’s Day. The food was exceptional. We had a bottle of lovely Italian rose wine along with a single shot of Sake. It’s was amazing from culinary perspective. However, the service was underwhelming giving its a special day while paying “premium” prices! There was a family with kids shouting and speaking out loud, which really hit a nerve with me, as I was expecting a more quite romantic time with my partner. After we paid the bill, the staff ignored us and not even the usual farewell you may expect from and restaurant. There was another restaurant/bar/lounge next to Isokyo, that had a live band. The music from that band was overlapping the musics from Isokyo, making the atmosphere rather annoying at times. Great food but unfortunately it lacks the required level of service to complement the overall experience. Asking for premium prices demands a 5 star offering all the way around!

I went on a Sunday, there weren’t a lot of Customers. On that particular day, it opened at 5pm so I’d say check before leaving home. Service was great, they were attentive and patient. We got the Tempura Prawn Tacos, Cumin Lamb Rib Lamb tacos for starters and for the main dish, we had the Soy glazed beef tenderloin w/ miso roasted potatoes and the Tom yum braised lamb shank w/ Asian mushrooms. Price was average for that location. Cozy ambiance, great for first dates and any special occasion Picture perfect too Only downside for me, I was expected proper Asian cuisine but didn’t get that.

The restaurant is chic and plush, the service was good but not outstanding (as one would imagine it should be given the location and reputation of the restaurant). Nevertheless, the food was excellent, well prepared and well presented (top marks in this department). The dining experience was without doubt a 5 star experience. The restaurant was expensive but not over the top. I believe it was half of what a similar experience would cost in Dubai. I would recommend this restaurant as well worth visiting for the food alone.