Chef Istanbul in downtown Montreal near Concordia is widely praised for authentic Turkish flavors, generous portions, and homemade bread at good value. Reviewers highlight kebab, lamb and chicken shawarma, doner, and falafel, with the lentil soup and labneh often called standout items and fries noted as excellent. The staff are frequently described as friendly and attentive, with guests recalling thoughtful hospitality such as complimentary bread or tea and a welcoming owner. The atmosphere is cozy and suitable for students and families alike, and the food is consistently fresh and well prepared. Some notes mention occasional service inconsistencies, a few dishes not meeting a diner's taste, and variability depending on who is working, plus practical details like self service, upstairs seating, and accessibility concerns. There is also mention of a temporary closure and requests for updated hours. Overall, it is regarded as one of the city's best Turkish options, with many recommending the kebab and chicken sandwiches and praising the fresh bread and flavorful dips.
By far the best Turkish food in Montreal, their variety of meats & their exceptional labneh is exquisite. Quality is always top tier & their service is excellent. Highly recommend!
The place looks nice, but honestly the food doesn't really match the name Chef Istanbul, It's not terrible, but if you've ever tried real Turkish food, you can feel the difference right away. The taste & quality could be much better it's missing that authentic Turkish flavor.
L'endroit est agréable, mais honnêtement la nourriture ne correspond pas vraiment au nom, Chef Istanbul, Ce n'est pas mauvais, mais si vous avez déjà goûté à la vraie cuisine turque, vous sentez tout de suite la différence. Le goût & la qualité pourraient être bien meilleurs, il manque la vraie saveur turque authentique.
Dec 7, 2025
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Good place for authentic Turkish food! The dishes are flavorful & well prepared, the portions are generous, & the atmosphere is very welcoming. The staff are friendly & attentive, & everything feels fresh & quality. Definitely a place I'd recommend if you love Turkish cuisine
Such an amazing place! Amazing authentic food, the staff are very kind & patient, & the prices are the best in the city especially considering the high quality of food. To whoever owns. & runs this place, your doing an amazing job!
The same type of sandwich as Antep offer but with lower quality! Just the bread is fresh but the quality of the meat is not good! The lamb kebab sandwich has a very bad smell!
So lovely. The food quality is great & people working there are so friendly & lovely & passionate. It was a lovely experience! Also when I was waiting for my order they brought me Turkish tea which was awesome ♥️
Oct 26, 2024
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This is the best Turkish food in Montreal -- hands down! I've eaten here many times, & have come to learn that I can't just buy the kebab; but I have to get the homemade fries & sauce too; & enjoy it with some cold ayran & hot çay --- now that's a whole experience that I wasn't brave enough to have in just one sitting. It's an'eat-in' & a'take-out' kind of meal. May God richly bless the restaurant owner(s), & staff, for always providing quality food & service! 🙏🏼😋🤩😁
The food was really good. But the service is so bad. They never serve you your plate. We had to go up & down multiple times to get our dishes. I think with such food quality, the service could be improved.
The falafel sandwich is enormous & delicious: well-prepared falafel, good sauce, plenty of veggies & a tasty homemade bun. Amazing quality & quantity for mere 9 dollars. Very nice & quick service. Simple decor, but really clean.
Authentic Turkish food. I've eaten at this place several times, & each time the food was amazing. My favourite is the lamb plate! 👍 However, they recently increased their prices, so I'll reduce my rating by one star. The rent in the area & the cost of food don't justify the price increase. Keep the quality high, but don't play with the prices.
