Talullas

This family‑owned Turkish restaurant truly stands out in Chapel Hill. From the moment we walked in, the staff greeted us with genuine warmth and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the bar area adds a nice touch if you want a drink before your meal. For two people, we ordered an entrée to share, main courses, alcoholic beverage, desserts, and traditional Turkish tea. Our total was around $100, and it felt absolutely worth it for the quality, flavor, and portion sizes. (They gave us complimentary Turkish flat bread and traditional sauce to dip it) The service was exceptional—our food came out surprisingly fast, and staff checked on us often without being intrusive. Everything tasted fresh and authentic. Highly recommend make a reservation. We were lucky to find a table for a walk-in. Right place to dine-in if you are craving real Turkish cuisine and warm hospitality.

Just absolutely absolutely marvellous. I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover this gem. I'm Jordanian and we share a lot of our cuisine with Turkiye, this food is hands down the BEST food I've had in NC. It is AUTHENTIC, full of flavor, very true to the original recipes, fresh ingredients, various choices with amazing care to detail. Janan was our waitress and she was an absolute star. The service was FAST, they don't hover, they are helpful and very professional. Value for money is impeccable, everything is reasonably priced and dare I say even less than I expected. The atmosphere, decor, lighting is all top tier, very Mediterranean/Turkish feel. Great music and the volume wasn't too loud. Overall would highly HIGHLY recommend. As a Levantine, this food felt close to home and the warmth of the service is phenomenal. 5/5 My order: Boreg, Yaprak, Sultan Ahmet Kofte, Kunefe, Cay, Manti, and that night's special was the Slow Cooked Eggplant Tomato Lamb Shanks.

Our group of 7 had an enjoyable evening at Talullas on a very busy Saturday night. Baha, our lively waiter, added to our enjoyment. All of our apps and entrees were excellent, with extra kudos to the two specials, grilled/filleted bass and lamb shank. It's been a while since we dined at Tallulas and we realized that we were missing out on a very fine and fun restaurant. We'll be back!

Probably the best restaurant on Franklin St. Cozy and lively ambiance. Food is authentic and the meat is very well done. The Sultan's Delight was the standout from our order. It gets quite busy on the weekends so reservations are recommended. Cocktails weren't bad also.

Nice atmosphere. The food is great. The lamb was perfect as well as the steak. Try the Pasha cocktail 😊

It is easily the best dining experience on Franklin Street and likely the best in all of Chapel Hill. I highly recomend this place to anyone traveling and searching for authentic Turkish cuisine. The food is lovingly and thoughtfully prepared. The service staff treats you like family, and it's clear that the business is also family owned. I came in on a Tuesday with a friend to have drinks and a few bites to eat when I say they kept the kitchen open for 45 minutes after close to accommodate us. This level of courtesy is something I have never experienced anywhere. This restaurant deserves your patronage and support. Get the lamb, and there's a sauce it's red and oregano and garlic based. Get it too. If you see me at the bar I'll take a glass of any red because the wine game is fire. You're welcome.

I’m wowed. The sauces are both flavorful and light. The falafel and fritters are highly recommended. The batter is light, not oily, but still melts in your mouth. The flavors are rich, and honor the raw ingredients. Highly recommended the seabass and lamb shank. The lamb shank is the definition of tender, melting off the bone. Below there are fries and a slightly sweet tomato sauce, as well as a creamy mushroom sauce which compliments the lamb delightfully. The fish has a perfect grilled flavor. The other dishes tasted great as well. The scenery, and music is beautiful, especially if you get the booths :). All around an amazing restaurant, a hidden old gem.

I treated my friend to dinner here as a thank you for taking my grad photos. We were seated right away. Service was friendly and checked up on us throughout. We shared the mezze tabagi and I ordered the sultan’s delight with filet mignon. Both dishes were delightful. I also tried a piece of my friend’s adana kebab and although I usually don’t like lamb, this was delicious. We ended the meal with Turkish coffee. Furthermore, the decorations of the restaurant was beautiful. Although the restaurant was on the pricier end for us, we would definitely come back here for special occasions!

Ambiance and service were terrific! Will absolutely go back in the future! There are a few tables that are very secluded and would be ideal for a date night! The window tables would be ideal for a girls night out or group! They had a prefix menu and added gratuity to the bill for added convenience. The food was full of flavor, robust, and diverse enough to satisfy our entire family. The server we got was one of the most memorable experiences ever and would go back time and time again just to have amazing conversation with him. We chose to eat the meal family style and ordered basically one of everything on the menu. Attaching a copy of the prefix menu with pictures of all three appetizers and all the entrees except the salmon.

Nicely decorated, authentic Turkish restaurant. We got seated quickly for an early dinner, but they do ask for reservations, so I suggest making one just in case on OpenTable. The waiter seemed stand-off ish and a bit rude to be honest. He was impatient and didn't seem to like it when I asked the prices for the specials. It took a long time for him to actually ask us what we wanted to take our order, which was a bit annoying. The table bread was pillowy on the inside and very crunchy on the outside. The sauce they gave us also paired very well with the bread. I got the Adana kabob, which was nicely plated. I thought the portion was quite small at first, but it was a perfect size in the end. The ground lamb was filled with spices, and the lamb was marinated and cooked nicely. The rice was a miss though, it barely had any sort of flavor. For dessert, we tried the baklava which was pretty good. Overall, pretty good experience for my first time trying Turkish food!

Came here with my friend on a rainy week day. I love the food here! Love Mediterranean food! The dishes were super delicious. Very rich, creamy, and tasty. I loved all the dishes I got here! Lamb shank was not a disappointment at all. But low key lamb shank never disappoints me at any med restaurants. Hummus was fresh and delicious. Service was great. My waiter stopped by multiple times to fill our drinks and asked for feedbacks. Restaurant was well decorated and with ample space. Loved the experience. Can't wait to come back!

An interesting Turkish restaurant in Chapel Hill. Conveniently located across the street from public parking this unassuming restaurant adorned in wood and darker tones serves unique fare. With rugs hanging from the walls this restaurant is a departure from many other local restaurants. We came on a Saturday night for dinner with reservations. The restaurant was packed and the waiters stretched thin. Took about 10 minutes to get a menu (one wasn't on the table when we where seated, just a wine menu). Once we got the menu it took another 10 minutes to get our drinks and order placed. The drinks where interesting and delicious. Once the food arrived it was tasty and hearty. Temperature was on point and we left stuffed. If you are in the mood for Turkish food this is the place to go. But I am not sure I would return again otherwise.

Probably give it 4.5 but rounding up to five. Started on a weak note, my OPenTable reservation wasn't in their system, and even when I showed it to them they sat us but it felt grudgingly. Started the meal on the wrong note. As I expected, the mezze were the highlight. We had the cold mezze sampler and it was excellent, but the warm humus was even better. I found the break okay but not as flakey or tasty as I've had at other Mediterranean restaurants. For my main course, I had chicken Sultan's Delight. It was good, with nice flavor, though the chicken bits (although organic) felt a little processed. Overall it was good fit from start to finish at a reasonable price.

Lived in chapel hill for at least 6 years, not sure why I've just discovered this gem now. One of my favorite restaurants in the RTP area - great food, even more beautiful atmosphere. Served was knowledgeable and helpful. Can't wait to come back.

The food was delicious! They give you complimentary bread and a sauce in the beginning. The meal itself was a relatively hearty meal that filled me up but wasn't too heavy. I think it's also reasonably priced. Definitely seems authentic and I would come back to try something different. Plus the overall setting is really cute. The only thing that bothered me about this place was the service. At first, my friend and I weren't sure what to get so we told the waiter we needed another minute. He made a face at us and grunted and then didn't come back and left us waiting for a long time to order. We were never checked on the whole meal. At the end, when we were paying, we asked if we could split the check (me and my friend) and the waiter seemed annoyed that I asked. It just feels like the people working there are overall really nonchalant/passive aggressive and we felt really uncomfortable the whole time. I'm still ranking it 4/5 because the food was good and people should try it. Just be wary of how the waiters can act.

This is a great place if you are looking for something different on Franklin Street. Warm and inviting ambiance combined with friendly and welcoming staff. The food is great - I recommend the Musakka or the Iskender. The house made bread is great too!

Excellent Mediterranean Turkish food & equally excellent service! The surroundings are lovely as well. The food was so good we didn't get a chance to take pics because we inhaled everything! The meat manti appetizer was delicious (we got a large order), typically order a choban salad Which was fresh & crisp, the slow cooked lamb shank was melt in your mouth flavorful,the salmon shis, & Adana Shis all perfectly cooked & deliciously seasoned. Highly recommend.

We came here for a work dinner after canceling a different reservation. We really enjoyed the ambience, the weight staff, and the food. Everything was delicious we ordered the appetizer sampler, and every thing was fresh. The main dishes were impeccable to coworkers ordered the lab shank, and they said it was the best lamb shank they ever had. I ordered fillet and it was cooked perfectly. If I'm ever in town again, I will definitely be back .

Never had Turkish food before, but now I'm a fan. Love it! Came to Chapel Hill for a meeting and dined here with colleagues. Enjoyed a couple bottles of wine and most of their shareable appetizers and main course. Loved the braised lamb shank and whole baked fish. Also loved all the fresh and colorful ingredients. Wonderful place to wine and dine in small or large groups. Would definitely recommend a for all comers! Turkish food is delicious!

If you have never been to the talluaus restaurant in Chappell Hill NC before I'm highly recommend that you check it out because the food is really amazing and overall the staff that works there are very positive and willing to answer any questions that you may have. One of my favorite things on their menu would have to be the tavuklu pide it has chard grilled chicken breasts mixed with onions and green peppers and cheese it's really good and worth a try if you haven't tried it before. The reason why I'm giving this place five stars is because the location is really amazing because you are right in the downtown Chappell Hill NC, where there are different places to eat and shop right across from the restaurant is a Mexican restaurant and in that area is also a Brewery and coffee shop. I'm going to tell my friends and family about this place so they can check it out and hopefully have a great experience like me and my family when we went. I definitely will be returning because it's just a wonderful place, and overall, the ambiance is very welcoming and inviting, and the food is really amazing.

I have been here on Valentine's Day, did not knew that they had valentines menu. But anyway the food was average and vegetarian dish is the worst on the menu. Appetizer and Dessert were ok. Service was ok, I was not able to enjoy ambiance on a busy Valentine's Day dinner due to seating and the sofas that was arranged against the wall was not comfortable at all.

A classmate recommended this on our cohort trip to UNC (just minutes away from this place). I was sold on the fact that it was Turkish cuisine (and that's always a strong selling point for me). We had reservations (and luckily so because it was PACKED) and we were seated a few minutes after arriving. Its design and atmosphere is vibrant and authentic, from decor to layout. It is a bit loud inside so it may not be the best option if you're seeking a conversation during your meal. The menu is full of options for all types of eaters (maybe except gluten free - not sure). But we had dishes for our group mix of meat eaters, vegetarians, and pescatarians. It did take the staff a long time to finally come take our orders, but after they did, the food arrived relatively quickly. And despite the speed, it was delicious. I personally ordered the vegetarian apps sampler platter and bread, and it filled me up well enough for an early dinner. The dips were zesty, fresh, and delectable, perfect complements to their bread. I also ordered ayran (yogurt drink) and it was good--not the best I've had but still hit the spot. What really sealed the deal for me was the fact that they had kazan dibi! This is an incredible dessert I haven't been able to find anywhere in California for almost two decades, after the Turkish restaurant near me closed down because the owners moved back to Turkey. It wasn't as perfect as the CA one, but it is so damn close. I'll most certainly be coming back to this place when I'm visiting campus again.

The vibe is very cozy and intimate. I do wish it had been slightly warmer and I had to keep my jacket on through dinner. The wine list was extensive and it was nice to try Turkish wines. I enjoyed the manti- smaller portion but filling and flavorful. The falafel I felt was over cooked - I got one bite that was like biting into a rock. The lamb shank was delightfully soft but lacked flavor and spice that I was expecting.

One of the best food experiences I've had. Fantastic. Couldn't recommend more. The ambience and service were excellent and the food was outstanding.

This is one my favourites in the entire Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, and if it was closer to me I would treat like a weekly hang-out. The Yaprak Döner, İskender Kebap, and Levrek were my favorites, and there is always good pide and Çöpün Salatası to go with the meals. I finished the meal with the same kahve I make at home every day, which is by far the best coffee! The staff and owners are very friendly and my wife and I always enjoy talking about Turkey with them! The atmosphere inside and outside is remarkable. On weekends in warm weather we enjoy the ambience, with often a performer or people watching , or the interior which reminds me of taverns and coffee / tea houses in Turkey.

I was in town with my wife to celebrate a graduation. It was a very busy time, and we made reservations many months in advance. We were prepared.for the limited menu, Prix Fixe for grad weekend. There were two entrees that were not eggplant, a chicken and lamb. My chicken kebab, was delivered as a few slivers of meat in breadcrumbs and cream sauce. I couldn't find enough chicken to make a bite. It may be great on a regular night, but that was the worst 50 x 6 ever spent.

Been here twice and love the beautiful place, setup and ambience. The food and service both have been superb. The Kebob platter recommend to our party of 5 was absolutely perfect for all of us. The whole place is a different vibe altogether. Will definitely visit again!

I enjoyed an amazing dinner at Talullas! The service was exceptional, and the food was authentic/amazing. We were seated in a wonderful spot in the back which was a little enclave, perfect for a date! The atmosphere was great, and allowed for good conversation without any distractions. The menu has great drinks, and too many amazing dishes to choose from! The service was over the moon! Overall, I think this spot deserves to be on everyone's weekend radar!

Excellent recommendations by our server. She also provided us a dessert sample at the end, which was amazing (Baklava). Food and drinks were excellent. If I am ever back in Chapel Hill, I will go again.

This place was incredible. We never had Turkish food before and were excited to try it - it was outstanding. The staff and service were also incredible making for an amazing overall experience. I give this place my highest recommendation.

I love this place. Not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. Helpful wait staff, but not over-bearing. They are usually pretty busy. I like the Turkish decor. Definitely feel like you're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. Food is excellent, especially weekend specials. I go for lamb shank or whole grilled branzino, but everything is really good.

Very good Turkish food in the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill area. Would definitely come back and try other things on the menu. The dish I got was called Talulla's Güveç with Lamb. The sauce was very very good and the Lamb you could barely tell was there. It didn't have that gamey taste to it like Lamb normally does. I would definitely order the same thing but also want to try other dishes as well. We also ordered a lot of appetizers which were all very good. And lastly I had Turkish coffee which was pretty good, strong and sweet. On the bottom of the cup there are coffee grinds, they don't take the coffee grinds out so be aware.

I honestly would give this more of a 3.5 stars out of 5. The first time I came I LOVED it. I got the beef sultan delight which I still think is great. However, when I came a few more times and tried other dishes, they all started to taste very similar. At least the ones with that more creamy tomato base. If you are to come though, get the sultan's delight.

Talullas was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. Most of our food was tasty but nothing was special. The starting bread comes hot and tasted delicious. It was a great start to the meal. They have a fabulous selection of wines and more that anybody can appreciate. I'd probably rate our two meals a 5 star and a 3 star. I would highly recommend the specials and the meals that they serve only on the weekends if it is available. Extra delicious. We got the baklava for desert; it was very small and did not have a powerful taste. We were hoping its baklava would be equally as good as Med Deli's, but it was smaller, more expensive, and not as tasty. Overall, a 4 star is a fair rating for Talullas.

I took my parents to this restaurant because the last time I went I had a great time! Nothing is too salty or too heavy but still rich in flavor. The meat falls right off of the bone and my lamb in the tomato sauce was very tender. The bread before the meal also tastes very fresh and the dipping sauce was also very tasty. They could also charge a lot more than they do so it's very worth your money!

I discovered I love Turkish fare at Talullas. This is absolutely one of downtown Chapel Hill's best restaurants. It is not fancy, but the dining is a delight.

Very cool vibe/ ambience. Excellent food and service. Great spot for date night! Try it!

We really enjoyed our dinner at Talullas with our out of town friends. The service and food were great and the ambiance was very lovely. Will return soon!

Hands down our favorite place to eat when we visit downtown. Everything on the menu has been exceptional.

Amazing atmosphere and very friendly staff. The starter bread was very warm and fresh. The dip was also freshly made and very flavorful. The portion sizes for the meals are enough for one or two people. The plating is aesthetic and matches the atmosphere of the restaurant. A staple in Chapel Hill.

Really delicious!! My lamb was a little dry but I would still recommend this place for 1) the antep hummus and 2) sebzeli musakka. The server was really nice and willing to explain the dishes to us. They also have a cute outdoor space. I have not super familiar with Turkish food but I would definitely want to come back to try more of their offerings!

Food is fantastic: salads, appetizers and Kebobs are delicious! ambiance is very authentic Turkish, service is quick and friendly. They accommodated my husbands dairy allergy thank you! Wish we lived closer so we can come more often :)

We are senior citizens visiting Chapel Hill for medical purposes. Even though we both have mobility issues, this was a fairly short walk for us from The Graduate Hotel. The food was outstanding and the owner and servers were very attentive to our needs. We had the slow-cooked lamb shank and the whole black bass fish. The bread was fantastic and I can't say enough about the roasted red pepper sauce that accompanied it!!! This was our 32 year anniversary and it could not have been better! Both my husband's IPA and my chardonnay were quite nice. We can't wait to eat here again on our next trip!

Waiter is so wholesome and funny. The food really tastes amazing and the decor of the place is one of my favs of all time. On an evening with nice weather and you have a desire for some upscale food this is an excellent choice on Franklin street!

I LOVE talullas! The food is great every time, I really enjoy their weekend dishes and the dip is heavenly :)

This place serves the best Turkish food outside of Istanbul! (I know I've been) The staff / owners are always friendly and delightful. Every single thing we have had here is amazing. All the homemade kebabs are juicy and delicious. The lamb chops are perfectly cooked. The actually know how to cook a whole fish perfectly, moist and flavorful! All the types of hummus and dips are incredible. The homemade bread will change your life! Love everything about this amazing establishment!

Disappointing considering the glowing reviews. Started with an unimpressive and frugal cheese plate with 4 small pieces of bread which was insufficient. We didn't receive extra slices, even though we asked 3 employees. Next we had steamed dumplings which were heavy. Oven baked humus which was tasty although no better than regular hummus except for being warm. The small bread was excellent. Would not return Staff was slow and kinda surly

Taken away slightly by the reviews but this place is so unique and many great flavors! Many people talked about the service but this is a local family owned restaurant which did not bother me. I loved the staff and the amazing different dishes that we got to order! Wow the bread and sauce really got me I had too much bread before the entrees ever came out the red pepper dip was truly amazing! I ordered multiple different things I would best say to get the sampler meat platter which gives you a little bit of everything.

Amazing middle eastern food in the heart of chapel hill! Great ambience- adorable window booths, rugs hanging on the walls, very pretty spot. Food is amazing. If the whole branzino is offered as a special- try it! It's amazing and the purple cabbage salad that comes with it is refreshing and light but also delish!

Passing thru town and walked by this restaurant with patio tables available. First time trying Turkish food and it was delicious! Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and they had fresh fried anchovies tonight as a special which was new to us and quite delicious. Everything was fresh and very tasty. We found the prices good too and would recommend! The waiter wore a mask and the tables were spaced apart for covid.

Ambience, creative cuisine, very flavorful. Can take some time, but always worth the wait

Daaaang... super good! I had the tilapi in filo dough ( can't remember the name) honestly amazing. Wish I had way more. Maybe next time. I'm traveling so I'm outta here but if you live here - eat here.

Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere. Our table ordered several appetizers - the dumplings were our favorite. The lamb was tender and had great flavor. The baklava was to die for.

Crowded and understaffed so service is slow and IT'S WORTH IT! I've never had a bad dish and we adore the appetizer bread and dip. Pidé is always good salmon was delicious.

10 out of 10 my favorite restaurant on Franklin st. Anything in the menu is exquisite! Not a must but a NEED. This place is an experience!

Delicious dishes and great service topped by an incredible Ottoman ambiance! The inside of this restaurant is one a kind. You don't feel like youve transported to a different continent in really any other spot on Franklin street. Gorgeous tapestries and traditional decor - perfect for a date night or a treat for any reason! They always start you out with complimentary Turkish bread and dip (which they send you when you order take out, too)! They are very vegetarian friendly with traditional dishes including some with eggplant which are among my favorites. You must try the Turkish pide (flatbread) here, too - several options with and without meat. Main meat dishes to check out here are the classic Turkish kababs - iskender kabab or Adana kabab! I think they only serve one of these certain days of the week so check the menu beforehand. I do wish they included more kabab in their "sis" (pronounced sheesh) entrees... but they're still delicious. Desserts are great too! This is one of the few spots where you can find fresh made kunefe!

Talullas Turkish fare is well worth trying. We stopped there recently for dinner and loved the flavors, the environment and the opportunity to try some vegetarian options. Service was great even at a busy hour. It was enjoyable to sit at the bar. Check out the menu soon. Lots to enjoy. We will definitely be back.

This was disappointing especially for the amount of money we spent. We had reservations on Valentine's Day and the restaurant is a tiny place with lots of two tops. There was a table within 4 feet of the entrance and dead center of the entrance. It was the table no one really wanted, especially during COVID times. As luck would have it, that's the table we were offered and we took it because it had already been 20 min past our reservation time of 7:30pm (now 7:50) & no other tables were open. The placement of the table was not enjoyable as it was pouring rain and people were coming inside dripping wet. Also, any time someone opened the door to come inside there were huge gusts of cold air hitting us. It's not their fault that it was raining or cold but during a pandemic I wish there would've been more thought put into the table placement. Also service was ok but very slow. We were there for 2 hours... We started with the shrimp appetizer and it was good. No complaints there.. the shrimp was char grilled very nicely and I really enjoyed the taste. My boyfriend got Karışık Izgara (Mixed Grill), a mixed kabob platter. That was pretty good, the meat had good flavor and the vegetables were fresh. I got the Yoğurtlu Kebablar which comes with a kabob served with Turkish pide bread and yogurt and tomato sauce.... this was really disappointing. The tomato sauce tasted like canned tomato soup and the lamb meat tasted slightly metallic. It wasn't awful but I wouldn't recommend it. Finally we ended the night with baklava and Turkish coffee. This is the highlight because the Turkish coffee was delicious and so was the baklava. Overall, this place was ok but for $100 for 2 people it was a bit pricey for what it was.