Şehzade Cağ Kebap

Speedy service and great food. A bit pricey but I thoroughly enjoyed the chow. Small menu so we opted for the wrap and the soup. Both were tasty but hands down to the wrap which in it's simplicity is so good. The meat speaks for itself and the char and smokiness comes through nicely. Loved it!

Their Cag Kebab is truly amazing. The simplicity of the menu with only 2 main dishes and a handful sides ( Mixed salad, yoghurt, lentil soup… ) provides a more authentic experience of this restaurant that has been up and running for years. You can taste the flavor and its unique and delicious! The portion of 2 cag kebabs as seen in the picture didn’t quite match a normal portion size. We got the order twice and were not disappointed — just by the pricing per serving.

We ordered the wrap cag kebab, which is a flour tortilla with tomatoes, onions and meat (which I’m not sure if it was lamb or beef). The meat was really good in flavor and in terms of cooking, so I highly recommend it. We also tried a drink made with yogurt, curious flavor, if you are a lover of yogurt without any flavor, try it, if not, better order another drink. Don’t get confused with the photos on the Internet, which make it look like a not so nice place, since it’s quite nice when you’re there.

A Disappointing Dining Experience – Overpriced and Underwhelming I recently visited this restaurant for a solo dinner, despite noticing its relatively high prices. Hoping for a quality meal, I ordered a lentil soup (120 TL) and a kebab plate (420 TL). Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from the start. The lentil soup was, without exaggeration, the worst I’ve had in Istanbul. It lacked depth of flavor and, surprisingly, was not even accompanied by a simple wedge of lemon—a basic expectation for this dish. The main course was even more disheartening. For 420 TL, I expected a satisfying portion, but what arrived was merely two small pieces of kebab, barely enough for four bites. Considering the pricing, neighboring restaurants offer far more generous portions and superior quality at a fraction of the cost. The value for money here was simply unacceptable. To make matters worse, when I paid in cash (600 TL), the staff did not initially return the correct change, only doing so after an uncomfortable three-minute wait. This, combined with the lackluster food and inflated prices, left me feeling taken advantage of. In conclusion, this establishment fails to deliver on both food quality and service, making it an unfortunate experience overall. I strongly recommend avoiding it and opting for better alternatives nearby.

Cage Kebap is so delicious here and fresh I tried it for the first time and it's a special one. You need to try it when visiting Istanbul. The staff is very friendly but you need to bring patience because it's so crowded and full. You can have a meal for 450 Lira with salad

I really enjoyed the visit. The taste of the meat is amazing. There are basically two options, the delicious kebab with bread on the side or the kebab inside a wrap. For the price, it is totally worth it. The service is okay but really fast. The place is crowded and busy most of the time, but which place isn’t in Istanbul. I can only recommend to every visitor visiting the sights close by and also visiting this restaurant.

Very delicious type of kebab. Crispy but you have to expect the oily look and taste as well :)) Was a proper experience having lunch here. Tried the very freshly baked Walnut Kadayif as well. Recommend that one too. The place isn’t fancy. It’s a local place in the heart of old bazaar of Istanbul.

Juicy tasty affordable kebab. Very simple menu, either kebab in plate or wrap. Both are really nice. I went there two days in a row. Saw some locals there, they said this is the place he would come from new town just for the nice meat.

You know they take their kebabs seriously here because it's literally the only thing they have on their menu (in addition to some side dishes). We ordered the kebab and kebab wrap and I was mindblown by how good it was -- the meat literally melts in your mouth, with a perfectly charred exterior and tender/juicy interior...and literally no game-y taste at all from the lamb. Would definitely recommend getting the salad and yogurt as well so you can make your own wraps with the lavash it comes with. I was particularly blown away by the yogurt it was so good both on its own and as a condiment.

Visited on a Friday night around 7pm with a friend. Place was packed but a few open spots were available so we were seated pretty quickly. Food: Cag Kebab plate which came with two skewers of grilled lamb and two thin pieces of flatbread along with sumac onions. Lamb was well cooked, fairly tender with a nice char, pieces were nice an bite size, two was the perfect portion for a light dinner. Flatbread was great, nice tender chew great for creating little wraps. Onions and sumac added additional layers of texture and flavor which were nice that you could build them into each bite if you wanted the sharpness of the onion and acidity from the sumac. Tomato Cucumber Salad - Nice and refreshing, this added freshness and balance to the grilled lamb. Spicy Tomato Sauce - Not very spicy, wish this has a touch more heat, but nice to have a bright tangy sauce to accompany the grilled lamb. Service was no frills, quick and efficient with a super simple menu. They sometimes even walk around with the side dishes & dessert, you can just let them know which items you want. Overall a great spot for Cag Kebab, fairly priced and really quick and easy meal. Would recommend giving this spot a visit if you're in Istanbul.

On a culinary tour in Istanbul, Turkey with Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street. They guided us through the markets, gave us historical highlights and fed us at all levels from fine dining, food stall and street vendors. All of the places have been vetted by our guides as they share a personal connection with the very friendly vendors. Sehzade Cag Kebap was hands down, the best lamb kabobs I've ever had. The staff here are rock stars, smiling, engaging with patrons and welcoming everyone to stick your head into the kitchen and view the succulent wheel of lamb meat. Your sense heighten as you sit and get ready to eat one of the best lamb dishes I've ever had. This feeling was shared with several members of our tour. Language could of been an issue here, but the smiling and friendly staff watched intensely as we inhaled their delicious entree. Their condiments were onions, red pepper paste, pomegranate molasses, tomatoes and plenty of homemade bread. They allow the star, "savory lamb meat" to be featured and not be buried by the accutramonts. It is a truely stunning dish and voted #9 in the world for best kabob. If you are in the market of the Old City, please look up Sehzade Cag Kebap, your taste buds will thank you. To the amazing team, excited about their talented skills, thank you for this incredible meal. Great quality food, we will return!

Loved the restaurant. It has a bit of a hall in the wall kind of feel, but totally worth visiting. The menu is very simple with only like 5 items. However, they do a really good job making those dishes. Plus, the food is priced reasonably and plates are decent size. The service was fast as well. Definitely recommend!

This restaurant is a must when in Istanbul! The location is centered in the old city where you can feel the culture with every step you take down the road! The staff here are really friendly and even if you don't know Turkish, just point to the pictures on the menu and they'll take care of ya! The food comes out quickly! The meat is cooked really well and perfectly chewy. Get your own plate to yourself and enjoy the meat with the flat bread and veggies! You'll want to be back for more.

If you're a fan of lamb, this is a must-try! The food is fantastic. Make sure to get a few orders as they only serve one item on the menu. Also, keep in mind that they'll bring you all the sides, which you'll be charged for at the end. Was throughly happy with the food though.

Before anything else this is not a kebab restaurant so don't come here if you want kebab. I know it has kebab in its name but it's really just gyro meat sliced and placed on skewers so if you expect different kinds of kebabs this is not it. I have no idea why it's so popular among tourists and why tourist rate this place so high. First the place is tiny and packed so you may have to go upstairs but it's still crowded. The service is alright but at least it's efficient. The menu is very small and once again they only have the gyro on skewers they call kebab but if you have had any other kebab you'll be disappointed. It doesn't taste bad but just not that good for anything more than 3 stars. Go to a real kebab restaurant in Turkey.

This is a very popular traditional doner kebap place with a limited menu. We went at lunch on our first day in Istanbul and the very efficient staff fit us int o two seats at a shared table. Because of the limited menu, the food comes pretty quickly. Doner meat with good sides, spiced onions, tomatoes, etc. Our hotel recommended it and it was very good, not fancy, not expensive. Mostly outdoor seating in a narrow street filled with other kebap places and a small pathway between the tables. Try it, you'll like it!

Very good cag kebab! For those who haven't tried, cag kebab refers to kebab preparation where there is layered lamb meat and fat roasting on a horizontal spit. The portions are apparently smaller, likely as the meat is far more pricey. We started off with a lentil soup, which was slightly gritty and not super seasoned / salty. We ordered two portions of the cag, which came with white onions and some tomatoes. To amp up the flavour, we also got a spicy tomato dip - which was very good and complimented the lamb perfectly! The cag was indeed quite small; there were two small skewers and two thin pieces of lavash. It was very gamey and delicious! You could taste the char and flavour. As it wasn't a big portion, we were able to try other things after, but do be warned... it isn't cheap for its size. They also charge 5 EUR for water (served in sealed transparent plastic cups)

If I had to choose one restaurant I'm going to HIGHLY recommend in Istanbul, this is it. Truly 5 stars across all boards. You'll find this 100% local-type restaurant on a very busy street surrounded by tons of people and liveliness. We were seated immediately; you may need to share a table if you sit outside, which captures the community-type feel of this restaurant. However, there is seating indoors as well. The servers were so kind and attentive throughout our entire meal. The menu is limited, yet they've mastered everything served. It's very straightforward -- you know EXACTLY what you're going to get and it is absolutely delicious. The prices are also very affordable. We ordered almost everything off the menu -- the soup, salad, yogurt, cag kebab, and the cag kebab wrap. AND, we ordered seconds. It's definitely crucial to order at least 1 order of the yogurt per pair of people in your party because it's paired so well with the kebab and honestly just by itself as well. We had such a great experience, with much of it due to the the quality of the food and the amazing service. I plan on coming back to eat here ASAP!!!!

Amazing kebab!! The food was so good and came out quickly. The staff was friendly and nice. I can't wait to go back!

Restaurant basically only has 1 thing on the menu so you know it has to be good! Really juicy and tasty lamb! Super fast service.

They serve the precursor of what the kebab would become. It was actually pretty damn good! Granted they give you a fairly small amount of meat through skewers for a pricy amount, but the taste justified it enough for me. Not too many places serve it from what I saw. Service is a little weird about pushing other items in you by placing stuff directly on the table, but simply but firmly say no and they will remove it. Also, even though youd think the food process would be quick, it's a little slower to receive your food than any typical kebab place.

The horizontal kebab was brought fast , fresh sizzling from the seekh and was astounding in taste. Beautiful !

The original home of the lamb kebab. Watch the master build the kebab and then enjoy this flavorful, tasty sandwich.

This place is fantastic! A hidden gem for sure. They offer a very limited menu with around 6 items (2 of which are mains, the rest of which are sides). While this may seem as being a limitation I truly believe the chefs have mastered the kabaps here. Truly delicious and a great Smokey flavor The surroundings are busy, and at times can get busy depending on when you come. At peak hours it is not uncommon to share tables with others which can lead to some good opportunities to make new friends! The servers are attentive and friendly. They also are very quick in service. Definitely worth a stop here if you're in Istanbul!

Small menu and plenty of locals dining here still so prices seemed fair. You can order skewers + the wrap and then dyi rolls by adding the salad, onion, or spicy sauce. You can order additional skewers after a la carte as well. Tastiest I've had so far.

To the person that wrote that it's "not real kabob," you're completely wrong. It's real cağ kebab! Very good, served fast and hot with onion/sumac and salad sides. Keep in mind that that's essentially the only thing on the menu except maybe a lentil soup. You really literally can't go wrong here! Service is efficient but a bit brusque, and at a number of shared tables.

With just six items on the menu Şehzade Cağ Kebap is nevertheless perpetually busy, the frenetic pace of nearby streets creating a scene quite unlike many while guests sit down to enjoy what many consider to be Istanbul's best Lamb Kebap. Serving Erzurum-style Lamb from a jumbo-size horizontal spit, the lengthy marinade assuring every bit is juicy save for crispy bits kissed by flame, additions include fiery peppers plus cooling Yogurt and sliced Onions intended to be eaten on paper-thin Lavash. Also offering crushed Tomatoes and Salad for 40 Lira, and housemade Soup for those in the mood, service is fast paced such that a meal lasts perhaps thirty minutes but that certainly isn't a reason to forgo stuffed Kadayif featuring Honey and Walnuts and a compelling texture.

genuinely probably one of my favourite meals of all time. probably the greatest bite of lamb i've had. servers are friendly and nice. ambiance there ain't much as it's mostly communal tables on the street but the food is DELICIOUS.

This place was recommended by a local and was legit. It was crowded and there were tourists as it's a touristy area, but it is famous for their authentic lamb kebab that is very succulent. Limited menu and service is what it is for Istanbul but go for the lamb as it was very good.

This place was a hidden gem. We came here because a friend of ours who is a local and had been living here for many years after moving from Iran recommended the place as one of the best restaurants in the entire area. She said it was better than Nusrat's which as an AmericN who appreciates steaks-- might be a stretch lol. This eatery has been featured in many publications and is very affordable. It's also located near the Grand Bazaar in a busy little alley so great for people watching while not being bothered as you eat. What makes this place so beloved is the friendliness of the staff (they're so on top of service and are more than happy to take pictures and let you take pics of the food). The best part - the meat. I'm not a big meat eater and even I loved the flavor of the kebaps. They tasted super smokey and were VERY juicy. The meat gets its l flavor from the fresh charcoal that it's cooked over and is rotated horizontally Vs the traditional vertical

The spicy tomato salsa takes this kebab to another level, do not skip it! So delicious

We came to this street vendor per the good reviews by vbloggers n YouTubers. Not disappointed at all, Çorba (soup), Ezme (spicy tomato paste) and of course Cag kebab (lamb doner kebab with pita wraps. Simply delicious. Anyone visiting Istanbul should visit this joint if you like to try a local street food.

Sehzade Cag Kebap was very, very, VERY hyped up leading up to my visit to Istanbul. Friends and colleagues said it was the best in town, but after a visit following what was a blowout positive experience at nearby Buhara Ocakbasi Restaurant I thought Sehzade Cag was just okay. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? Sehzade Cag is efficient. The menu is simple to the point of being a picture book, and the dishes (there's really only one with sides) come out nearly immediately. No complaints. Star Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? The pricing at Sehzade is a bit confusing given the kebab itself is only $2.75, but you'll of course want all of the sides from the onions and spicy tomato sauce to dessert. Even so, it will run you maybe $6.00 USD tops, which is just absurdly cheap. Star. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Everything at Sehzade was just okay in my mind. The kebab itself was fresh off the spit and wonderfully tender, but the flavor in my mind leaned on the onion and sauce, which is a contrast to what I had had elsewhere in Istanbul. The dessert fell well short of expectation especially since there is so much amazing baklava and comparable dishes nearby. Single Star. Star 5: Would you be excited to go back? I liked Sehzade Cag, but there are much better kebabs in town. No Star.

On New Year's Eve, a local İstanbullu recommended şehzade çağ kebap to me so I went. It's located in Istanbul's Fatih down a side street near the T1 Sirkeci stop. Since the weather was nice, I sat down outside and watched the çağ kebabı cook. As soon as I sat down, the garson told me what was available and I said I wanted the çağ kebabı. Another garson then came over with a plate of sides and asked what I wanted. I asked for the salad, ezme, and spiced onions. I wasn't sure how much I could eat so I only asked for two çağ kebaplar. Be sure to tell the garsonlar when you have had enough or else they will bring you more. This was my first experience eating çağ kebab and it was phenomenal. I highly recommend trying it if you're in Istanbul. It's a bit expensive if you're a local, but as a foreigner, it's very affordable. I will definitely visit again.

This spot is on my top Ten Restaurants in Istanbul and its a must try. Easy going vibe, great location, with nice outside seatings. these guys serve horizontal lamb doner on woodier. the flavors have been elevated with smokiness and sophistication that I won't be able to deliver it without you trying it out for yourself. it comes with thin bread and a side of chilly paste thats killer. moreover, Its reasonable priced and quality is profound.

My husband and I visited the restaurant while in Istanbul. We loved it, one of the best meals we had in Istanbul, affordable and clean. Staff was nice, helpful and patient with non Turkish speaking guest. They serve meat in sets of 2 with bread and salad. I suggest anyone to get meat w/ bread, salad of onion sumac and yogurt drink ayran. Great great!

Apparently it's one of those local 'can't miss' food staples in IST, so came to check it out. The presentation of a horizontaly rotating meat stick on wood fire is not something can be seen often, so it's definitely captivating. There is a very limited selection of dishes on the menu, mostly sides to accompany the kebab. Meat porsion is relatively small, size of a snack at most, consisting of two skewers Of tender lamb, greasy, smokey flavor. Does it taste good? Yes Is it so much better than the kabab next door? - probably not. Overhyped in my opinion.

Tasty sliced lamb straight from the horizontal pit. The meat is tender and well seasoned. The slightly more toasted and crunchy pieces of meat are everything! Catch a seat on the second level for a look at the action from above. You get two skewers per serving along with the thin wrap-like bread and onions to eat with the meat.

This is borderline street food in a small bazaar area. No-frills, quick service. Very small menu (7 items), but that's all you need/want. Ambiance is 100% local, and the food is fantastic! Might be a little overwhelming for first-time western travelers, but if you keep an open mind, savor the sights and sounds, and have an empty stomach, it is one magical experience!

This was maybe a good place for a quick eat. We stopped here just to try what we saw. The menu option was entirely limited with only a few to choose from. Wife really liked it, except the meats they served were full of gristle/fat, so I was pealing some of that off. The meat was still pretty good, tender, & juicy. The service was ok. But the kicker was the tea and when I started drinking that, I felt light-headed and didn't have the hunger I had once I sat down. We left and I would maybe visit this place again if I wanted something fast to eat but the feeling after that tea made me a bit uncomfortable.

Excellent horizontal cag kebab in Istanbul. Easy to find in a central location (close to Hafiz Mustafa). Friendly and quick service at very affordable prices. Straight up hole-in-the-wall. It will be crowded and noisy, you come to an eatery like this then expect it. The lamb meat was just absolutely phenomenal! The skewers have that perfect blend of melt in your mouth charred fat, salted meat and juices. Pair the morsels of lamb meat with a roasted pepper, onions and that spicy tomato sauce and it's on! They gave us complimentary chay after our meal. I'm not a big eater and 4 lamb skewers weren't enough for me. If you're an eater, get at least 6 skewers for yourself! Be sure to sit outside by the rotating slab of meat so you can absorb the smell of heaven in you.

After seeing this place on Mark Wiens youtube program, I bookmarked it as a "must try" during my visit to Istanbul. The schwarma was okay at best. Certainly not the tender melt in your mouth morsels Mark made it out to be. The meat was chewy and some was a little grizzly. I give it a 2.5 overall. They rushed us in and rushed us out because there were the hordes waiting behind us. I guess most everybody still loves it. For me, it was one and done.

Stumbled across this place while looking for the dance show at the cultural center around the back. The open spit with lamb roasting horizontally caught our eye, so we had to go in. We sat in the small area upstairs, and it was rather plain with simple furniture and tiled walls, and the glass tabletops covered tons of newspaper articles about how great this place was. Fantastic food with succulent slices of lamb meat roasted on a horizontal spit, crunchy tomato-and-cucumber shepherd's salad, thick buffalo milk yogurt, lavash bread, the requisite Ayran for every meal, and a gooey and sweet Kadayif Dolma paired with Turkish tea rounded out our meal at Şehzade Erzurum Cağ Kebabı. The only complaint from my guy friends were that they wished they got more food!

We found this place by accident. My spouse liked how the meat looked on the spit so we sat down, and then the crowds came. Poor guy across the street selling the same thing had zero business, has been in business longer according to their signs, and had his employees sit at the tables to try and draw in business. It didn't work the entire time we were eating. ATMOSPHERE: The tiny restaurant has covered sidewalk seating only and is great for people watching. They're located near the spice market. We did have a peddler with her child come up to the tables asking for money while she played the accordion. MENU: Kebabs! FOOD: Red Bean Lentil Soup - It was orange in color and tasted very good. A medium savory with a nice amount of lentils and more soup, not too thick either. Lamb Cag Kebab - The cag style of kebab is an old school way of cooking the meat horizontally on the spit rather than vertically. Well it was THE BEST we've had in Istanbul! Super tender and tons of natural flavor. It came with sides of yogurt, spicy couscous and lava, which we made into a burrito and devoured it. SERVICE: All the guys were friendly and food delivery was quick. OVERALL: Excellent food, normal prices. They even won an award on Trip Advisor!

My family and I were walking around the city when we stumbled upon this super busy restaurant. We decided to try it to see what all the hype was about and I'm so glad we did. Place is perfect for a quick bite since it is fast paced and there is only one thing on the menu. As soon as we sat, they put down plates of salad, yogurt, and onions. They then promptly brought each one of us a dish with two skewers of kebab and bread. It was so delicious and tender. We had 13 skewers of kebab and 6 waters for 186 Turkish liras. I highly recommend it and we will definitely go back before our trip ends!

I hesitate to write a review only because this was such a magical hidden gem. I've eaten lunch here two days in a row and will probably go back tomorrow. The carving guys look like they're "sewing" small, perfectly cooked pieces of meat together as they carve pieces off for each order. Service has always been prompt and very courteous - they even helped me figure out what to order with my pathetic pantomime skills. *Pro-Tip: - order extra sumac on the onions (included with the kebab) - the spicy tomato relish/spread was delicious but does have a bit of a kick (though admittedly I'm a wimp) but pairs deliciously with the lamb - if spice is at all a concern - definitely order the buffalo yogurt - even if spice isn't your main concern - these guys know what they're doing when it comes to flavor combinations. **fyi, no alcohol, and arrive before 3 pm so they don't run out.

It's worth the hype. Probably my favorite restaurant in Istanbul. We went there three times. Everything was delicious and lamb Skewers were amazing. The charred wood flavor is like nothing else I've tasted before. Would highly recommend this place.

The place is super small, but the meat is freaking delicious. I am a huge fan of places that only specialize is one dish! This place gets it right. The meat is tender and flavorful, the warm bread is perfect for the meat. Price came out to 34 TL for the main dish at 24TL, side of spicy mix 7TL and can of coke 3TL.

I love Cag Kebap, so I wanted to give it a try in Istanbul. Note that Cag Kebap is a specialty from Erzurum and I had eaten it there at the - in my opinion best ever place for it - Muammer Usta. So knowing how the best Cag Kebap tastes I gave this one a try and I'd give it a 3,5 out of 5. if you have never tried before and you like meat, which is a little bit fatty so it develops the right kind of taste for this dish you can give it a try here - knowing you have to go to Erzurum one day to try the best in the world! Service is good and fast, nothing bad to mention. I can recommend this place - price performance is all right. If you go rake one portion Cag Kebap, a salad, acili Ezme and an Ayran for drink - you'll be happy! Enjoy!

Cozy, small right in heart of the historical peninsula Sehzade is my favourite stop when I need a fast but delicious lunch. All tourist I brought there so far just loved it. The Kebap is a special one born in Erzurum a city close to the northeastern border of Turkey and it consists of meat of marinated slices of lamb, tail fat, sweet basil and salt. Don't expect a variety of food just go with their horizontally cooked Kebap and yogurt drink. The only thing you need to pay attention is that they try sometimes to give an impression that the salads and yogurt is free they just put them in the table, so return them if you don't want to pay for them. Closed on Sundays

Wonderful kebabs I can't say enough of this place. Not being in this region since being a child brings back a lot of memories from Iran. Can't go back there yet but this is as good as home.

Oui first experience with Turkish food. It ight very well be the best place to start with. They have awesome kebab as a single menu selection and you just chose what you want to eat your meat with. Their lamb is amazing and it's hard to stop ordering more of it considering how tasty and cheap it is. Dessert was not to our taste, then again most deserts in Istanbul weren't...

The service is amazing the food is amazing the sweets are amazing that's it nothing else to say. All in all this was very amazing would definitely come back to back here. The yogurt was fire also

Best doner in Istanbul. They didn't even give us a menu they just poured out the meat & a few salads/yogurt. And it was the best thing we ever tasted in Istanbul. An absolute must.

They tried to throw 3 sides in the table like they were free, but they aren't. They were 12tl together, but if I didn't ask, they wouldn't tell me. So they tried to get me for 12 to just to sit down. The kebap is fine, nothing special. They need to soak something in the fat they're dripping off, because it clearly wasted. The kebap is fine but I don't like someone trying to take me, once I walk in the door.

Amazing taste, great customer service and an experience that is a must when visiting Istanbul. I will be back!

Cağ Kebap itself was very good. Portion size was however very small for the price. Overall a good place for just a quick eat. You may want to go for a durum instead of a platter.