Zeytin Turkish Cuisine

I stumbled upon this spot on Google after seeing a ton of great reviews, so I decided to check it out, and I’m really glad I did. It’s a cozy, family-run Turkish restaurant that feels like one of those hidden gems you’re always hoping to discover. The place itself is pretty small and unpretentious, but don’t let that fool you because the food and the service are both top-notch. Honestly, I was surprised it wasn’t packed on a Saturday evening because it definitely deserves to be. We started off with a sampler of four appetizers: baba ghanoush, eggplant sauté, tabbouleh, and a creamy, yogurt-based dip whose name I can’t remember, but every single one was excellent. Each had a fresh, homemade flavor that you just don’t get at big, commercial places. I kept going back and forth trying to decide which one was my favorite, and I still couldn’t pick. For the main course, I went with the lamb sauté, and my wife ordered the okra sauté with chicken. Both dishes were bursting with flavor, and you could really taste the freshness of the ingredients and the care that went into the cooking. The portions were generous too, so you definitely get your money’s worth. Service was another highlight. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. Overall, it felt like the kind of meal that’s prepared and served with pride, and that’s something I really appreciate. If you’re craving authentic, mom and pop style Turkish cuisine with rich flavors, generous portions, and genuinely warm service, I highly recommend giving this place a try. I’ll definitely be back, and next time, I’m bringing friends.

I’ve Had in Years This restaurant may be small in size, but it delivers big on flavor. Most of the dishes we tried were exceptionally delicious—rich in authentic Turkish taste and cooked to perfection. A few items were just average, but the majority stood out for their flavor and quality. Service was impressively fast and the staff were warm and friendly, which made the dining experience even more enjoyable. The ambiance is simple and not particularly fancy, but honestly, when the food is this good, that’s not a concern. Do note that parking is limited and the restaurant space is compact, so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. I’ll definitely be returning the next time I’m in the area!

There are so few actual hidden gems anymore BUT this is the real deal! Food is delicious and service is great. Definitely try the sauteed eggplant under cold dishes with a lavas hollow bread. We've tried both the lamb and chicken sautes which are both yummy.

What a hidden Gem! Right on the corner of Edgewater and Thistledown in college park, is the best Turkish food in Orlando. It’s set in a quaint building that feels like you’re eating in your grandmothers kitchen. Turkish lanterns adorn the ceiling and the smell of red lentil soup fills the air. The food is fresh, full of flavor, and as authentic as it gets. Our server was kind and pleasant and offered us an array of their cold starters to try with the Lavas bread and each of the 7 spreads had a unique and delicious flavor. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful and makes for a great date night for intimate conversation. Don’t pass up this great spot!

Authentic delicious Turkish food. We ordered hummus, baba ganoush, lavash, chopped salad, Turkish sausage pide and moussaka. Also had Turkish wine and beer. Baklava for dessert. We had tons of food to take home. Friendly service. We will be back. ♥️

The place was great and food was great . I only give four stars is two reasons. One it's was sooo hot and stuffy inside . Two our entrees took 45 minutes . It was nothing crazy and it wasn't so busy. Otherwise gos was good.

Tasty food with different options for vegan and regular Turkish dishes. This is a small restaurant but wasn't too busy on a Wednesday night. Teas, coffee and Coke products along with various fruit drinks offered. We enjoyed the mixed kabobs.

Adena kabab is too spicy Pide was perfect Shish Kanab is ok Heydari and salted eggplant is good I hope they have a beef option as well

Incredible food. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Ordered several dishes on the menu all of which were excellent. Will definitely come back!

I've Had in Years This restaurant may be small in size, but it delivers big on flavor. Most of the dishes we tried were exceptionally delicious--rich in authentic Turkish taste and cooked to perfection. A few items were just average, but the majority stood out for their flavor and quality. Service was impressively fast and the staff were warm and friendly, which made the dining experience even more enjoyable. The ambiance is simple and not particularly fancy, but honestly, when the food is this good, that's not a concern. Do note that parking is limited and the restaurant space is compact, so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. I'll definitely be returning the next time I'm in the area!

Outstanding food...really nice folks. Excellent service. Good ambiance across. Good spot to check on Edgewater drive

Zeytin Turkish Cuisine has always been on our list to try but we've never had a chance to make it over. We finally tried it out on a Sunday night and the restaurant was full when we got there. For food we tried the Lamb Pied for $25, basically a Turkish pizza. It comes with a side salad and is large enough to split. I do wish it came with some type of sauce to dip bc the pied is dry on its own since it's basically just cheese and lamb. But we ordered some babganush for $9.50 and Lavas bread $5 to start. We ended up using the dip the pied and it complemented it well. The salad is pretty simple l, just romaine, red onions and tomatoes with olive oil dressing. Service was quick, and we checked on often. The food was great we we enjoyed our first visit.

Great food and very nice atmosphere! Chef was excellent! We have been to Mediterranean restaurants across the country and this one stands out as one of the best.

The food here is phenomenal, truly a very authentic turkish restaurant. Everything was bursting with flavor and you can tell the cook really puts love into their food. My only complaint is that I wanted an extra yogurt small sauce to take home ( they give you one with your entree) and the server said they would have to charge me, which is fine but they don't have a way of charging a small side of sauce so i'd have to get one from the appetizer menu, which is around $9. If i'm getting a mix grill platter which feeds two people , and we still had left overs 2 sauces should come with the meal in the first place, but I also think if someone wants extra they should be able to buy one for a couple bucks, aside from that the service and quality of the food here is phenomenal.

Should I write a review? I kind of want to keep this place a secret just for me to enjoy. Don't let the humble furnishing fool you. The food here is fire. If you're looking for authentic Turkish cuisine this is the place. The service is excellent. The waiter was generous and giving us extra appetizers and dessert. I'm not sure if they would do this every time but it was very thoughtful of them. Needless to say I tipped them well. I love Turkish food and I will say I liked this even more than Bosphorus. The cultural experience was authentic. I will be back...sooner rather than later I hope!

This venue is very close to where I live, so it's convenient, but more importantly they provide consistently tasty food.

My experience at Zeytin Turkish Cuisine was good! We stumbled upon this restaurant on a Friday night and sat at the bar until a table opened up. The inside was intimate and cozy with only a handful of tables. Our server was welcoming and nice and offered recommendations from the menu. We split a bottle of wine for $20 (great deal) and started with the lavas ($4.95) with mix of babaganush, hummus, and sautéed eggplant dips. For our main course, I had the turkey sausage pide ($24.95), it reminded me of flatbread pizza! It was savory and delicious. My friend had the mousakka ($26.95) which was similar to lasagna. Overall, it was more expensive than what I was expecting upon walking in but the food was delicious! I plan on coming back in the future!

Dubious of all the 5 star reviews but the place is legit good. One of the best tasting meals I've had in Orlando. You need to check this place out.

The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and if they didn't know they found someone to ask. Quality of food was a bit above average. We will go back and try other items

Outstanding food and service! You wouldn't expect it from the outside looking in, but the food here is top notch. Authentic Turkish food, Turkish beer, comfortable seating, great vibes, and again, excellent service. We ordered a smorgasbord of food for 3 ppl including five beers, total came to $200 before tip. 5 stars. Will be back.

Best kebab I've ever had! Way better than any other Turkish, Persian, or Afghan spot I've been too. Customer service, seating, ambiance, music, everything was fantastic

Top Turkish food in florida. 5 star service from Murat! We ordered the mixed grill and it did not disappoint. The meat was not overly oily and was seasoned to perfection. Chef Z puts a lot of pride and love into the quality of his food and you can taste it.

I was passing by town and found this gem. The service is incredible and the food is so fresh and delicious. You can tell they put a lot of love into it. The atmosphere is also very lovely. Highly recommend!

The moussaka is delicious and just the right amount. Along with naan bread, hummus and their Turkish tea, just the perfect choice.

We stopped for dinner after a long day at Disney after a recommendation from a local. It did NOT disappoint. The food tasted phenomenal! Service was also exceptional, our waiter was super nice and helped us make the right decision on what to get!

It was an amazing experience! The food was spectacular and the quality was amazing! The overall layout of the restaurant is definitely picture worthy. The staff and owner were incredible sweet and hardworking! I would recommend this place if you want to try amazing Turkish food!

My husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant when we were shopping in orlando. Looking at the yelp reviews we wanted to try it for ourselves. We were fortunate to have been able to get a table for 2 because some nights require reservation. We got there for an early dinner (5:30pm) and we got our drinks & appetizers fairly quickly. The restaurant was clean and we can tell the staff takes care of their patrons. The waitress knew all of the people that came in by name & the drinks they normally order before they even sat down. It was a very homey experience because the tables nearby us started conversations with us. They explained how the food was fresh and very authentic, complimenting the chef & how meticulous he is in his food prep and cooking. Because of the conversation we were excited to try our meal. For an appetizer we ordered the hummus & bread. The waitress even brought over fresh pickled veggies for us to try and it was delicious. For dinner I ordered the Lamb Pide & my husband ordered the special beyti kebab. Everything was delicious. Very nice experience.

Close to 200 five star Yelp reviews and it's all true. Zeytin is a gem of a restaurant. My son and I were in Florida for a soccer tournament and he suggested we check this restaurant out. We both love Mediterranean food so I was intrigued. We got to the restaurant shortly after they had opened but was greeted by the nicest woman named Michelle. She made us feel so welcome and was so enthusiastic about it being our first time eating Turkish food. She offered wonderful suggestions and really helped steer us in the right direction. We started with the pita bread and a tzatziki style dip. The bread is cooked at time of order and comes out looking like a giant pita or New Mexico style sopapilla. It was so much fun to watch it deflate and add dip to it. She also brought us a sample of their eggplant dip which was incredible. Even my 17 year old boy devoured it! By now we're pretty dang happy. She then brings out our main course- lamb sis kabob. Tender chunks of perfectly seasoned lamb, rice, cucumbers and tomatoes in a side bowl, and raw onions. We're at our table making little lamb sandwiches on flatbread feeling like we hit the jackpot. I'm not a big lamb eater but this was incredible. We eat some more, talk some more, have a great meal and feel so incredibly lucky to have found this place. I make a promise that if we are back to Sanford next year we'll be eating here again at least once.

If I lived closer I'd be here all the time. The TL;DR is that their menu is similar to Bosphorous but has just that extra bit of care and charm that comes from a non-corporatized setup. Started with the lavas bread with baba ganoush and esme, and they threw in a hummus as well. The lavas smells lovely even from the parking lot and is a must. My favorite is the baba ganoush, which has the right about of creaminess and smokiness from the roasted eggplant. For entree went with the lamb saute...I find some dishes in mediterranean cuisine (including some of the dishes I've tried at Bosphorous) can result in dry, overcooked meat, but this one was tender and juicy to the max, highly recommend their saute dishes if you're one who likes saucy/stew dishes. Flavors were on point and the large portions means plenty of leftovers! Michelle is mentioned a lot in these reviews and deserves every bit of credit. As the lone server that night, she balanced efficiency, attention, and personality to keep customers happy even with a full dining room.

Their foods are so delicious and so fresh ! Their service is so excellent. Ambiance is so neat ! I would love to come back there again for next time .

Found this place after someone shared they came on a local foodie fb group. I immediately looked up the restaurant and saw it was reservation only and called and hoped the odds were in my favor. They were! I was able to get a table for 7:45. We showed up slightly early, but were sat immediately. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. Get the lavas, lamb, and all the desserts made in house!

Best Turkish food in town! Cozy and quintessential ambient which allows a relaxing environment for dining and conversation while enjoying appetizers or post meal nice cup of Turkish tea.

Food was amazing, authentic Turkish food everything was good. Easily best Turkish restaurant in town. Service was quick and friendly. Wonderful atmosphere. Even had a turtle up front that my toddler got to feed!

Food is delicious! Always hits the spot! Love the puffy bread with dips! It's an intimate space but the quality of food is great!

When you drive 45 minutes out of your way to show up at the opening time then are turned away because you don't have a reservation leaves a bad taste in ones mouth. There is no website to inform that it is reservations only. We walked in behind a family of 4 and the restaurant was otherwise empty. The hostess explained that she was alone and the next available reservation was 2.5 hours later. Pay attention to reviews that state to call for a reservation- reservations are REQUIRED not just "recommended".

First time coming here to eat and I want to say from the beginning to the end , it was a great delicious experience. We made a reservation prior to dining in so there was no wait. Our server Michelle was such a wonderful delight. She was the only one working in the front and she held down the fort and brought out everyone else's food including ours in good timing! Everything was delicious from their bread to the hummus and to the main entree. It's a nice little place to bring friends and family and I would definitely come back for the wonderful service Michelle provided and the delicious food they offered. You want Turkish, this is the place to go.

Food was excellent and the service was superb. Location is very quaint and cozy. Preferable to a busy plaza or chain. Michele was a attentive and awesome server. Support local and Definitely will be back

Everything was amazing! Ambiance was cozy and relaxing. Service was on time and waitress was very friendly. Food had so much flavor and fresh! ( I will be going back just won't order the kunaf which is my favorite it had a burnt taste and the cheese did not melt it was hard , the only disappointment was the chef kept telling me that's how it is if you look it up the cheese melts it's not hard or dark black underneath. ). Other than that I had a great experience!

We had a wonderful time eating dinner here! It's a hidden gem & a family owned restaurant. I was so impressed with the 5 star review that we had to give it a try. The place is authentic for sure, the interior and the food! Their dips are sooooo good, honestly you can't go wrong with any. I wish I could try all of it. The lamb sauté was tasty and lots of flavor. Their prices have gone up quite a bit but it's understandable after Covid. Michelle, co-owner of restaurant was wonderful and gave us a free sample of their dessert ( I don't remember the name). She made our first time experience awesome! Can't wait to come back when we are win the area. Definitely try it!

Hidden gem alert! Been wanting to eat at this restaurant for a long time. The food at this restaurant was AMAZING! We tried the lavs bread, babaganush, Esme, hummus and Lamb saute. The babaganush was smokey, very interesting and the Eszme was a MUST buy. The service was great (Michelle) and couldn't have been better! Do NOT be drawn back by the outside appearance, what matters is the food and this is as authentic as it get! Overall impressed, I can easily see why it's a 5 star restaurant- family owned and operated, keep up the great work!

The food is excellent the service as well. Yeah, ambience is nice with all the colors. The only way is by reservation only and I can tell you it's worth it. We always get the mixed appetizer. It get a little bit of everything and the mixed grill for the table. It's big enough for four people. Or two people really really hungry

Fantastic restaurant with the best Turkish food in Orlando. Great ambiance and affordable, authentic food.

Food and service is excellent. And the Turkish beer was awesome. Gave this place a trying and im glad i did.

Zeytin is an absolute GEM of a restaurant! My boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant not knowing that it's mainly reservation only. Luckily, the host/server was able to fit us in. We were so glad that she could! That being said, the restaurant is a hole in the wall, so it is very small (like 7 tables). I would definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation or see if they can fit you in. We started out our meal with appetizers. We chose to go with the "Pick Two" and the Lavas. For our two dips, we ordered the baba ganoush and the ezme. The server ended up surprising us with an extra dip as well. I think it was the soslu patlican. The bread was so fresh and all of the dips were delicious. I have to say that the baba ganoush was the best - it was out of this world! I would even go as far to say that it was easily the best that I have ever had. We normally get a mixed grill at a new Mediterranean restaurant to see what is our favorite meat. This mixed grill was delicious, and I couldn't choose a favorite. I have to say that I was surprised that the rice was a standout along with the meats, too. Of course, we had to try out their baklava. I liked how it was served as 4 cubes instead of one slice. It was very nice for sharing. No complaints here either! We will definitely be back soon!

This place is a hidden gem. Called to make a reservation since seating is limited. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and seated by Michele. She is very friendly and extremely helpful with the menu and provided excellent suggestions. We ordered some hummus and Lavas bread to start and the mixed grill to share. To drink I requested some turkish black tea. The hummus and lavas bread came out first accompanied by another side and I forget what it was called. It was spicy yet pickled but went perfect with the crispy bottom side if the lavas bread. The bread was excellent as was the hummus which was fresh, flavorful, and creamy in texture. Our mixed grill platter arrived in a very reasonable amount of time. It consisted of lamb doner, lamb sis, chicken sis, lamb adana, and chicken adana. Rice, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions served as garnishes. The dish had excellent presentation and the meat was expertly prepared, cooked, and tasted wonderful. For dessert we shared some baklava which is some of the best I have had in some time. Flaky but not dry, nutty but not too much, and yes sweet but not too sweet. Perfection! We will be back soon to enjoy more great food and drink. Hopefully we can even get in some hookah time too.

This is the best Turkish restaurant I've ever been to! The food is amazing, so flavorful and fresh. It tastes like you're in Turkey. Our server shared recommendations and helped us choose and we have recommendations for our next visit! Our food was made fresh to order. The decor is cute and authentic. Highly recommend but be sure to make reservations!!

I cannot believe I have lived so close to this restaurant and had never tried it. I went last night for my 3rd time in recent weeks. Every single dish we try is incredibly delicious and fresh. The flavors and service are top notch. It is easy to just drive by and miss "Authentic Turkish Cuisine." Try it once and you will be hooked too!

Great food and service. We tried chicken, veggies, and lamb. Appetizers, hummus, etc. The bread, lentil soup, and baklava. All fresh and hot. Michelle was an amazing server, attentive and helpful. I don't know if the a/c was broken, not working properly, or not used enough but it was uncomfortable in the 90 plus degree Florida weather. So eating in that environment, even the best of foods can be challenging. MAKE a reservation, it's a small place and Michelle is alone. We saw people turned away.

Such an amazing family owned business that make the absolute best Turkish food i've ever had. If you ever have trouble picking an entree the lamb sauté is always my go-to pick. But everything is insanely delicious so you can't go wrong!

Another meal at Zeytin, absolutely fabulous as always! For four people, we did the house salad, mixed appetizer platter, mixed grill and a lavas bread. Loved sharing everything with friends, it was perfect. The food and service here are consistently excellent. Make yourself a reservation!

Stopped by on a Tuesday for dinner with a couple friends. At first, I was shocked there was a sign on the door that said something about reservations only, to sit inside. The place was pretty much empty, aside from a family of 3 having dinner. I asked about the sign - they said last night was so busy they would have turned me away, that takeout orders were 1.5 hours yesterday. So apparently, they recommend getting a reservation so you're certain to receive a table. Luckily, Tuesday was not busy, so they sat us immediately. Michelle, our server, was awesome; Super energetic and knowledgable about the menu. I was so stoked that she was making a fresh pot of Turkish tea. I had three servings! We started with the mixed appetizer platter and the lavas bread. It was nice to be able to try all the dips. Everything was so good. The spicy dip, ezme, was a favorite for us, as well as the haydari. The lavas was hot and delicious; I loved how certain parts were soft and doughy and other parts were crispy like a cracker. We also had the white bean salad, which was a huge portion. It is lightly dressed and very healthy. I took most of it home, as I wanted to save room for dinner. For dinner, we had the lamb sis kebab, the lamb adana kebab and the special beyti kebab (lamb also). Everything was so good. My favorite was the lamb sis kebab. Perfectly seasoned. Yum. Michelle was around often, checking in on us, clearing plates and refilling our drinks. She even surprised us with three small pieces of baklava after dinner. One of my friends said this was the best baklava she has ever had. I would easily come back here to eat again. Everything was so good. I'm interested in the lentil soup, the lahmacun and the pide. So I have to come back. I heard the chef used to work at Bosphorus. I also heard this place is more authentic than Bosphorus. I'd say - come out here and try it for yourself and see what you think. I was not disappointed.

Authentic Greek, made from scratch. I highly recommend this place. They are a locally owned business really good and I will definitely be back.

AWESOME FANTASTIC DELICIOUS SUPERB TURKISH FOOD! I've been ordering pick up from Zeytin from the beginning of the pandemic. Michele is always super friendly and efficient. We've tried a few of their items and none of them disappoint! Most recently we went for dine in because we had a friend in town. Reservations needed!! We ordered- Pick 4- I could eat these everyday! I've tried all of them, and it is always so hard to just pick 4. My must are the babagannoush and hummus- both super smooth and delightful. You can't go wrong with the rest- ezme (a tad spicy), sautéed eggplant, haydari, tabuleh, or cacik. Lavas bread- I get one for myself and one for my husband, we just can't share one. It comes out like a giant balloon, steamy and fresh. The bread is so soft and perfect for dipping in the mezze or as is. Lahmacun- Ground lamb on a thin dough, very delicious served with a side of refreshing cucumber, lettuce, red onions, tomato and lemon salad. Lamb Adana- Ground lamb skewers seasoned to perfection! The side of coconut rice with so good, comes with red onions, tomato and cucumber also. We've also had the Turkish pide's before, but they were out the last two times we ordered. They are fresh and made to order so once they're gone, they're gone! Really enjoy them also. Another we often get is chicken adana kebob, and mixed grill- these two items last us a couple days. Will be returning over and over again!!

Excellence food and service. 10/10. Clean place with a nice ambiance. Private parking area for free.

Excellent food! Placed a pick up order for the mixed grill; it was delicious all the way! When I walked in, it smelled amazing I couldn't wait to get home to eat! The mix grill feeds two comfortably; with the cucumber yogurt side it was phenom - I think this is the best Turkish restaurant in Orlando and I've tried 4!!! Amazing customer service too - thank you Michelle

Great food and service. Server was very friendly and the food was amazing! Mixed grill was cooked perfectly and the rice was absolutely delicious. Loved the variety on the mixed appetizer and the Pide was flavorful and not heavy. A lot of food for 2 people so waiting for the late night snack tonight as well! Highly recommend.

Delicious and authentic Turkish food, Michele served us,she was very friendly. I enjoy their food.i recommend to everyone.its family owned restaurant.recconmnded food lava bread,chicken kebab,kunefe and baklava