Turkish Lazuri Cafe

Food is authentic and DELICIOUS. HIGHLY recommend. Place itself is very small and much more made for delivery, but the food is incredibly delicious. Highly recommend the Adana made with lamb and the kanafeh. We got the mixed grill and it was a great way to try a bit of everything. Hummus was great!!! Staff was incredibly kind and friendly

WOW! I think this is the best Turkish outside of Turkey I’ve ever had. There are hints of the “Lazuri” vibe with some Trabzon decor in the place :) Adana kebab portion was HUGE with lovely fresh veggies and two kinds of rice. Cacık was OUTSTANDING. Cannot wait to return.

Our favorite Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant! They have incredible dishes that are very authentic and have amazing presentation. Super friendly staff and the food is wonderful. Everything on the menu is a winner!

This place is an absolute hidden gem. Top quality food, amazing flavor, and a great selection. Service is friendly, but the interior is relatively humble, and there is not much seating. It can be competitive to get a seat here on weekend evenings, but they do a respectable takeout business. Go on a weeknight, or call the place directly and try to make a reservation. Using the Google Assistant to make a reservation has failed me several times here, which is a huge disappointment to arrive and not be able to get seated due to the limited seating capacity. That hurdle aside, I cannot recommend this place enough.

update: unfortunately I just realized this place does not have a doner grill!!!! What that mean is that they use the doner from other places, freeze it, the defrost it and serve it to you….. THIS IS WHY THE MEAT SMELLS!! - the food was not good, the lamb had a bad smell - we constantly could smell the cigarettes as people were smoking outside the restaurant and the door was open - the waiter did not check once with us whether we liked our dishes or not - they have on the menu that the kabobs all come with rice and salad, but it was not true for iskandar kabob - the kufta should come with pita bread but they don't give u unless u ask it specifically - I did not like cacik or Ayran at all! Not the home made nor the bottled one!

This cafe is in the heart of Allston. Very busy place, plan ahead and make a reservation. I’ve walked in once thinking we will be fine, we had to return due to the tables all being reserved. From the outside, it looks like a small cafe but this place gets very busy. We got lahmacun and chicken sheesh kebab. First time trying the Turkish food. It was great. I loved their bread with olive oil dip on the side. The lahmacun was very light and had pizza like crust. I wasnt a fan of babaganous. It’s made up of eggplant and the texture was very much like oatmeal. I also wanted to try their turkish tea. Very similar to the Nepali tea we get back in Nepal. I would try this place again.

Lazuri Cafe offers not only exceptional Turkish coffee but also a delightful array of dishes. The portions here are not to be underestimated (my omelette was seriously huge, made with three REAL eggs), left me pleasantly surprised. Despite the sizable portions, the prices remain incredibly reasonable, making it a great value for money. The service at Lazuri Cafe is another highlight; the chef even crafting a cute smiley face with my omelette. From start to finish, Cafe delivers an exceptional dining experience.

Really small restaurant, but their food tastes so good. Big plate! It was really noisy when we were having dinner there.

Best Turkish food in the area. I spent time living in Antalya, Turkey and this food is the real deal. A lot of places labeled "Turkish" tend to err on a more Mediterranean or Middle Eastern side, but this place is the most authentic Turkish food I've found around here.

I regret to say that my recent experience at your cafe was thoroughly disappointing. I ordered the shawarma, hoping for a flavorful and satisfying meal, but what I received was far from it. The shawarma was utterly unpalatable, with a horrible taste and an equally unpleasant sauce. To make matters worse, my order was missing any vegetables, leaving it lacking in freshness and balance. As a former frequent customer who enjoyed your delicious offerings when the cafe first opened, I was saddened to find such a drastic decline in quality upon my return after a few years. The stark difference in the food's taste and quality is simply unbelievable. Unfortunately, I cannot see myself returning to Turkish Lazuri Cafe after this disappointing experience.

Friendly Needed a quick and fresh bite to eat after a full morning- and this place was perfect The Turkish breakfast was what I needed and it even came with a doughy egg thing- very delicious The interior is small with only a few tables but most people seemed to be in and out when we can just after 11. I highly recommend and will be returning!

We were in the area and decided to eat here again. This time the experience wasn't quite as good as before. First off, the gentleman taking the order thought he had photographic memory, he did not take down the order and brought out 2 wrong dishes, forgot a side and had to be reminded multiple times about basic dine in stuff like cutlery and napkins. We also tried a few new dishes and they weren't as good. The falafel was as good as I remember. We also tried the stuffed eggplant (cold appetizer), it was such an underwhelming dish, barely any flavor. I would pass this one for sure! The spinach pie was okay, nothing to write home about. Ordered the Adana wrap, ended up getting the doner wrap, it was meh. The fries were not that crispy or hot by the time it got to our table. The ambiance is very casual with just about 4 tables. Parking is a pain. Overall an average meal!

4.5/5 Come for the meats and the late night dining. This place is open until 3am every day except Monday. We ordered the lahmacun to share and it was super savory and crispy on the bottom. The lamb I ordered was incredibly tender and flavorful, although the falafel was a little dry and the fries were not crispy. I would definitely come back to try more of their extensive menu

What a wonderful place. We had no idea what to order, all the food that was on tables looked amazing. The staff was helpful and kind. The dip and bread are Amazing!!! We had a variety of items, no sure what it all was-but I'd eat it all again. The zucchini fritters were yummy!

Delicious food, great hospitality! One of our go-to restaurants in the area. Great for breakfast and lunch.

Thank you for staying open so late. My partner, she and I, suffer from insomnia. We fall asleep after dinner in front of the television. We wake up around 11pm. Then we are restless at midnight and early morning. Good to go to a place that has good breakfast food. Thank you in advance. See you sometime soon. Looking forward to your Turkish breakfast food

There is not a lot of indoor seating, but the staff was very quick to accommodate. Throughout the entire experience, the staff was very friendly and Rafat did a great job with us. The restaurant is small but it worked out for 7 because of the friendly staff. The food was fantastic. Iskender kebab is a very delicious meal and overall everything was unbelievable. Definitely would recommend this place. I have nothing bad to say! 5/5

Excellent food and quick service. Recommend to reserve before visit. Awesome mazdool dates on table as well.

Open late night so there's the convenience. Limited parking. No napkins, not very flavorful, the French fries added to the wrap didn't help

They have easily become one of my favorite restaurants in and around Boston as they are the right combination of what is important to me - or to anyone else obsessed with food, culture, and execution. I had stumbled upon this establishment during my initial visit to Boston prior to the upcoming move and they immediately made it to my permanent-list of forever-patronage. I cannot say it was perfect BUT it was more than good enough to warrant several more (and eventually endless) visits since for both their delightful food and genuinely warm reception. The owners were still always around when this whole thing started and they exhibited great pride in making everyone feel at home - something I completely respect. Unlike many places I have reviewed in the past, this review is part of the small group of restaurants that I'm only finally writing about after extensively dining here. I can't explain this particular pattern properly but think of it as one's denial that it is even possible to be so amazed to this extent. I started with their gargantuan special that provided leftovers for another day (and still tasted so good with a little nuke time). I slowly but surely went through most of their main menu and was absolutely pleased with each one. The great quality and taste remained constant. They were preparing and dishing each one right. How is this all possible? How can this place just be that good? First proven observance, owners are great, know their food, and have standards. Second observance, owners not around for the latter part of my journey, certain slacks take place BUT nothing major. I just was able to notice it immediately. Another theory, just throwing it out there, they just hired really amazing kitchen staff - which is definitely going to be true in this case anyways with the food quality - but that also means there has been great management. I blab. I do so when I really have fallen in love with a restaurant that I patronage as often as my schedule allows me. But I blab. So here it is: If you crave Mediterranean food and know it, you'll respect the Turkish aspect they provide. If you crave Mediterranean food and DON'T know it, you'll respect the flavors and touch provided here. If you crave DON'T crave Mediterranean food, know or don't know it, you may get influenced here by finding the right dish for you here. There is a great range of flavors and texture and I thought it crazy that one of their soups hits home like Mike Tyson at his prime. I love this place. I seriously LOVE this place. Thank you for doing it right and thank you always for your wonderful hospitality. To a better 2023!

Amazing food! Small room but that makes it more appetizing to me. The waitstaff was very helpful in deciding which foods to choose!

We order takeout from this restaurant quite often, and the food is always outstanding! Our boys love the pide and the lahmacun options, which pair well with their salads. I personally love their vegetarian options. Regardless of what you order, you cannot go wrong.

If you're thinking about ordering from (or grabbing food at) Lazuri Cafe, definitely do! This restaurant has become a regular on my delivery rotation and they never disappoint. The food is always prepared quickly and they've never messed up an order. Everything I've ordered has been fantastic - the flavors are great and the portions are large. My favorite items are the Shepherd Salad with doner, Cacik and Lazuri Durum with doner. Recommend.

The quality of food is excellent especially for such a modest and unassuming place. I'm not sure how they are able to maintain that level while also operating 17 hours a day for 7 days a week. The lack of other Turkish food places in the Boston area is another huge bonus for them.

Stopped by here because I was hungry and tired of looking for a place to eat but man am I glad I stumbled upon this Turkish Mediterranean gem! As a treat to ourselves and after having not eaten for over 12 hours, my friend and I got 2 kofte lamb wraps, a lazuri lamb bowl, a lahmacun that comes with three pieces, and a tres leches cake to finish off. The kofte lamb wrap isn't your typical pita gyro, it's a lot thinner and more concentrated in flavor meaning that the veggie garnish was more apparent and crisp and strong in flavor, but delish nevertheless! The lazuri lamb bowl and lahmacun definitely stole the show though! The meat in each dish is so flavorful and tender, it sweeps you off your feet! The lahmacun is essentially like a super thin pizza bread with ground beef on top which was as delicious as it is intriguing and unique! And finally, to top it all off, we got a slice of the tres leches which honestly was a little disappointing because it was very hard and not milky or moist whatsoever but will honestly have to come back here and try their other desserts and dishes!

Such a great little spot in Allston! My husband and I walked in with no expectations for brunch and left with our bellies full with tons of leftovers! We ordered the Turkish breakfast plate (small) and the combo flatbread with two Turkish coffees! More than enough food for the both us! Everything tasted amazing! The service was quick and very polite! Very nice surprise for a Sunday brunch! Can't wait to go back!

This is absolutely my favorite Turkish restaurant in the area. Authentic and delicious food. Lots of options and each is unique in its own way. Staff are friendly and welcoming. Fast service!!! Highly recommended.

If you grew up in the Northeast, you would probably have had your favorite local Italian Pizzeria There would have been delicious food (often on display) from an extensive, but not overly diverse menu, priced right with good sized portions. Turkish Lazuri Cafe operates from the same principle. The food is fresh, diverse, delicious, big portioned and priced right. Probably the best falafel I've ever had (tasty, crunchy, not dry) Lentil soup and Shepherd salad were also very good - fresh ingredients- seasoned correctly And the Kunefe dessert was unique, delicious and not too sweet - my favorite part of the meal There is a reason Yelp reviewers give them a 5 We are definitely coming back soon

Super yummu! I enjoyed everything especially the spinach pie! All the meat was fun to eat and it was cute inside too.

Lazuri Cafe offers not only exceptional Turkish coffee but also a delightful array of dishes. The portions here are not to be underestimated (my omelette was seriously huge, made with three REAL eggs), left me pleasantly surprised. Despite the sizable portions, the prices remain incredibly reasonable, making it a great value for money. The service at Lazuri Cafe is another highlight; the chef even crafting a cute smiley face with my omelette. From start to finish, Cafe delivers an exceptional dining experience.

Oh yum. The lamb Lazuri bowl was very good. Served quickly with a healthy portion of meat. I enjoyed the variety the bowl offered. It was difficult deciding what to order. The menu is extensive and other guests had dishes that looked great. I wanted to try everything. Baklava was great too. Friendly service. Only downside is I'm visiting from out of state and I won't be able to try other dishes any time soon.

In terms of late night food in Allston, Turkish Lazuri is gonna be one of your best options. The staff was kind, place had energy but not obnoxious, and the food was solid. 18/30

I really wanted to love this place given the rave reviews. However, my experience was good, just not great - more like a 3.5? We ordered the chicken adana plate entree and the chicken lemon soup. The chicken adana kebab was absolutely delicious and so was the accompanying rice (there were two types, the red rice was tastier!). It came with shredded carrots and purple cabbage in the entree plate and a separate shepherd salad on the side. The salad was fine but the entree felt too dry - no sauce, hummus, or anything to bring it together. Some pickled veggies like radish or turnips would also have been a great addition to the dish. The chicken lemon soup was tasty but had a canned taste to it. I want to think this was freshly made but just couldn't tell. For now, I'll stick to my favorite chicken avogolemono at Gyro City. The meal also came with two huge pieces of bread and this was amazing. I'll go back just for this bread! I'm still open to trying more stuff from here, they have an extensive menu, but I hope they add something more to their entree plates to round them out.

I tried this restaurant with a few friends and overall had a good time! The portion sizes were pretty large and since we had 4 people we got to try a variety of items. I would say overall I wouldn't choose it for Mediterranean food, but there are probably some Turkish items that are hard to find elsewhere here. We had an appetizer sampler platter ($19.95). The best appetizer we tried was the ispanakli -- I would definitely get that again. I didn't like the dolmas, and the ezme and baba ghanoush were pretty good. We also got the combo kebab platter with chicken and lamb ($28.95). I don't eat lamb so I'm not sure how that tasted, but the chicken kebab was not very tender so I wasn't a fan. I did really like the chicken kofte texture in comparison -- it was very good and juicy, though it did have a slight lamb flavor which I didn't love. I also really enjoyed the buttery pilaf rice on the platter. We got the lahmacun ($14.95), and it was okay, I wouldn't get it again. The desserts were both new items for me. I thought the milk pudding (kazandibi, $5.95) was quite good, but quite dense so I couldn't eat a lot of it. The kunefe ($8.50) was good to try once. One small note is that the restaurant did overcharge me by $16 -- with tip and tax I paid $136.11, but they charged me $152.62 on my credit card. Luckily I caught it and when I called they quickly refunded me the entire tip. Not sure how this happened, but maybe watch out for it? Overall I liked the ispanakli, chicken kofte, rice, and desserts. I got to try a lot of new things which was great!

Being Mediterranean my self, I paid $50 for three items with lamb. I dont mind paying for quality, however : the Kofte Kebab for $20.95 was a mixture of lamb with tough beef, the two donner wrap/pita were just really old and rubber tough beef. I paid premium for lamb. I asked several times: 'is this lamb'? I was assured each time: Yes. Not cool to be lied to. Update an hour later: To make it worse, they use MSG (Monosodium Glutamate Salt). I am allergic to it and now I have the side effects of having consumed MSG. Thanks a lot. This is the only food I have had today. They use MSG.

Hands down some of the best mediterranean food I've had for a while. The Lahmacun (Turkish pizza) is a must-get!! So unique and flavorful, and the portion is generous too. They also gave us warm complimentary bread with house made sauce which is also delicious. The kebob combo is huge and comes with an assortment of meat. It's super filling so you'll probably pack some leftover home if you get this. The only reason I'm docking a star is because the rice pudding dessert tastes kind of bland and rice texture is a bit hard (but idk if it's supposed to be like that, just not my fav), but the rest of the meal is wonderful and I'll definitely come back again for the food!

I enjoy the food here and the owners and employees are always welcoming. I never had a bad experience in any of my visits and it is one of my go-to places for kababs.

On god this place is serving up some of the most tender chicken a fella ever got his hands on. No cap what so ever. I've only ever ordered for takeout but the staff was super friendly. Even if they were really mean to me I would still come back, cuz the food is just too nice! I recommend. Food got a little tossed around in my car but I added a picture. Use your imagination to envision the platter untossed.

Not really my type of food... I thought it was pretty flavorless overall. We had leftovers and I seriously needed to season it/add sauces. However, this kunefe is AMAZING. If you haven't already tried Kunefe, it's one of my favorite things to eat (like ever)... sooooo yummy omg look at this cheese pull.

This place truly deserves 5 stars. Their food is so delicious, and for the meat-lovers out there, the meat dishes here are a must try. The lahmacun pizza ($4.50) was tasty, and came with tomatoes, onions, parsley, and a slice of lemon. The dough was chewy in the middle and more crispy at the edges. It had a slight char to it but wasn't overly burnt. The kofte wrap ($8.50) was hefty, with 3 pieces of kofte inside, hummus, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. It came with a cucumber/dill yogurt dip on the side. Their kofte is super juicy. I saved part of the wrap for later and upon reheating the kofte was still super juicy. The flavors were nicely balanced as well. With hummus and kofte in the wrap this can really fill you up. Their entrees allow you to choose 2 out of rice, salad, or fries. I chose rice and fries for the doner entree ($14.95) and the fries portion was HUGE! The fries were a bit underseasoned but they come with ketchup. The doner is really tender, flavorful, and not dry at all. The entree came with bulgur, onions & parsley, shredded carrots, charred tomatoes, and a charred pepper. The doner portion was big and the entree could honestly be split between two people. The rice was tasty and the bulgur was perfectly seasoned. Everything came with a chewy, fluffy piece of bread. Looking forward to trying some of their other menu items (would love to explore whether their vegetarian options are as great as their meat options)!

If you're looking for a huge serving of Turkish food, you've come to the right place. I ordered the Adana kebab entree which comes with 2 large lamb kebabs, 2 types of rice, peppers, lettuce, a side salad, 3 rolls, and 2 baklava. It was almost two whole meals in one. I also tried the Turkish breakfast plate, menemen, with a Turkish coffee. I can now say I'm a fan of Turkish coffee. It comes boiling hot and definitely more on the bitter end, but I do prefer my coffee black. The menemen (egg and tomato and pepper scramble situation) was flavorful and came with 2 bread rolls as well; I'd be happy to order it again. It was more enjoyable than having yet another American omelet. The space inside is small but there are a few tables with chairs, maybe about 16 seats in total. I often see patrons inside around dinner time even on a weekday, so I'm not the only one who thinks this place is worth a visit. They also set up two little patio tables outside. The inside feels very homey and friendly, and my interactions with the staff have been pleasant. They have an endless menu for which I'll definitely be back.

My wife and I drove by this place while we were on our way to another restaurant but it peaked our interest so we decided to check this place out instead and we couldn't be happier with our decision. What I love about this place is that it hits on all cylinders, the service is great, the food is amazing and the food is served quickly. We ordered the Lahmachun and Mixed grill platter and we LOVED it, it's hard to pick which part of the meal was our favorite but if I had to pick, it would be the chicken kofte. All the food was so fresh and delicious, we immediately told our close ones about it. Throughout our experience the staff was kind and helpful, I really really appreciated the service. We ended our meal with the tres leches cake and it was amaaazing. Do yourself a favor and check this place out ASAP, they have a customer for line with me.

10/10 EVERY. DARN. TIME! It's always fresh and delicious! The hospitality is always welcoming... and it's as casual as you want it to be... breakfast-late night snack! Love this place and it's vibes...

Really solid sandwiches, baklava was kinda eh but overall I'm definitely coming back when I'm in this neighborhood. Everyone needs a good corner spot for kebab

Ordered takeout from here for the first time today. The gentleman at the counter was really nice & helpful. French fries - crinkle cut, with a light seasoning Falafel Wrap - made with a lavash wrap which rips really easily so a little difficult to eat. The wrap overall tasted really good, but i do wish the falafel were a little more aggressively seasoned Baklava- delicious. 3 small pieces which i prefer over one large one Excited to have stopped in. Will definitely be back!

The restaurant was clean and charming and there was a lot of takeout happening at the restaurant. The food was excellent both vegetarian and meat dishes were very well prepared, seasoned, and presented. The tea was excellent. There was a wide variety of food and dessert choices. I would highly recommend this local spot to anybody.

Always thrilled with the food and the service. My favorite spot as an overnight hospital worker!

As a person who works late in Boston I am constantly let down by our terrible late night food options. After striking out on Chinese food at 1am on a Wednesday, in desperation I searched the word "food" in google maps and found this place is now open until 3am daily. I got the falafel veggie bowl and let me tell you, it made my day. Huge portion, very reasonable price, awesome variety and legitimately amazing food. The food wasn't just delicious for something I could get at 1am on a Wednesday it was just plain delicious. Having eaten at pretty much every single one of them, imho this is the singularly best restaurant in Boston open after midnight on weekdays and it's not even close.

I've been to Istanbul. While there, I had a lot of kebabs (it's my thing). Trust me when when I tell you that this is as good as it gets. As a bonus, the portions are very generous. The Combo Kebab comes with enough food for four people, all for $25! Lazuri Cafe has a diverse menu, and I suspect everything is good. But do yourself a favor and try to kebabs first. Parking in this part of town is always tricky, but the smiling faces of the people working here make things easier.

This new addition to the neighborhood is way too good to miss. It is without doubt the best Turkish food I have tried so far in all of New England (and I have tried a few). The passion and hard work of the family behind this restaurant really comes through in the delicious meals served here. The lentil soup is incredible and reminded me of my grandmother's cooking. The combo platter offered a nice sampling of many dishes and it was hard to pick out what was really the best kebab (kofta might have won here). Potentially the best of all was the kunefe which might have been the best I have had anywhere. Together with some turkish tea served in the traditional way, it was the perfect end to a great meal. Overall, with great service and home style Turkish cuisine, this is the exact type of restaurant Allston has been dreaming of. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Everything was delicious! We ordered the zucchini fritters, the lamb kofte kebab, and the Adana wrap. The star of the show was the bread and their "secret dipping sauce." Literally mood-changing. We also ended up ordering a kunefe to-go. They made sure to pack us up all the components and tell us how to cook it/prepare it at home. Can't wait!

Great addition to the Allston area! The food here is fresh and packed full of flavor! And the staff are very friendly. My husband and I usually do dinner take-out and get the wraps and sandwiches and have always loved what we've gotten but today I'll be reviewing brunch. Came here on a Saturday around 11am. The place was pretty empty so we decided to eat in the restaurant. The space is small, fitting only 4 tables plus some counter spaces. For food and drinks, we got ice coffee (pretty standard), the egg menemen dish and the combo Turkish flatbread (gozleme). The egg menemen is tasty. It's like scrambled eggs mixed with tomatoes, onions and bell peppers with some spices. It's served with homemade bread. Very good. The dish both my husband and I absolutely loved and which will definitely bring us back is the combo flatbread! It was absolutely delicious! The flatbread is on thin phyllo dough but it's packed full of flavorful feta, ground beef and spinach. I'd definitely recommend it!

Really tasty lahmacun and lentil soup! My wife got a chicken wrap that was also super yummy. Food was just as it is in Istanbul, so if you like Turkish food you will love this place

Great family owned restaurant friendly staff great taste food i always enjoy the food & servic. Keep up the good work!!

Totally delightful, best lamb chops with the original seasonings, imported I do believe they need more room, Allston

i've had better turkish bread, but that olive oil was very yum. spinach pie was flavorful and flaky. everything in the chicken combo kebab was generally good. it all started to blend together, but the shish kebob was my favorite form of chicken.

This is a small family run cafe with really warm people. My wife and tried the lamb Adana and chicken kebabs. Love the flavors! Great service. Really good food And sauces. Really like the bread and dipping oil sauce! Highly recommend the - lamb and chicken adana kebabs

one of the best spots i've tried in boston!! would highly recommend to everyone in the area! get the chicken combo kebab if you're indecisive like me and want to try a bunch of different but equally delicious forms of chicken. the doner kebab is good, but nothing super amazing. their kunefe is... eh. but really solid place overall. not 5/5 stars bc it's not the best turkish place ever, but it definitely is one of the best in boston.