Istanbul Restaurants

Çiya Sofrası

#100 of 471 things to do in Istanbul

#33 of 544 italian restaurants in Europe

4 reviews | Write a review

Good for: attractive location, atmosphere, food, Solo Travellers, service

Not good for: food, bad food

  • Address
    • Güneşlibahçe Sokak 43
  • Transport
    • Kadıköy
  • Website
  • Phone
    • 216 330 3190
  • Price
    • meze plate TL5-10, portion TL6-12, desserts TL3-6
  • Hours
    • 11.30am-10pm

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Lonely Planet review for Çiya Sofrası

We’re going to go out on a limb here, and say that this is the best lokanta in the city. We love the simple modern interior and ever-friendly staff, and we adore the food – everything from the delicious self-service meze spread to the icli köfte (spicy meatballs rolled in bulgar and deep fried) to the plentiful vegetarian choices. Two dishes wowed us on a recent visit: a stew of fresh apricots, chestnuts and lamb; and katmer fıstık şeker hamun kaymak (sweet pistachio flaky pastry with clotted cream). Next-door Çiya Kebapçı is owned and run by the same people, and is just as impressive. If these places served alcohol, we’d move in permanently.

 

Traveller reviews for Çiya Sofrası (4)

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    Highly recommended

    trevorandjane recommends this,

    It hardly seems possible that we could be talking about the same restaurant as the previous two reviewers, but we are. Ciya was in every way a positive experience for us. It was a little difficult for us to find and we had to ask several times, but it was certainly worth the wait. Sixteen different salads/meze await the vegie lover while pots of delicious and unusual foods bubble away in the hot food area. The chef speaks enough English for the prospective diner to make a choice from dishes derived from ancient recipes with ingredients sourced from all over Turkey. The desserts are also amazing from candied olives (yes!) to a pistachio filled pastry served on a bed of white foam made from the root of a tree. As soon as we ate it, we wanted another. It cost the equivalent of AUD16 for two. Our only regret was that we didn't have time for a second visit.
    There's also a great food bazaar nearby and the Asian side of Istanbul is not so touristy-definitely worth a look.

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    Food poisoning possibility

    zeytinyagli does not recommend this,

    We had dinner at Çiya, with three of us having had nothing common to eat prior that dinner. We all three got severe food poisoning. Given the prior conditions, the dinner at Çiya is the only plausible culprit. When we contacted the restaurant management the next day, any such possibilty was categorically denied. They simply stated that it could have been caused by something else. When we explained the circumstances, they simply repeated their non-argument that it is not possible.

    Avoid at all costs. The risks are too great and attention to your case non-existent.

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    Bad food! Very expensive

    peitreq6 does not recommend this,

    Sometimes I don t understand guidebooks. This place looks great but the food really sucks. A simple proof of that was there is only foreigners now coming to eat here. 170 TL for 2 starters and 2 mains, 3 glasses of wine. For that price in Istanbul you can expect a lot more.

    Good for: attractive location

    Not good for: food, bad food

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    A Taste of Anatolia

    aegage recommends this,

    Ciya is an anthropological treasure as the owner and head chef Musa Dagdeviren brings the traditions and lost recipes of Anatolian cuisine to the modern city of Istanbul. With a knowledgeable, helpful and welcoming staff, wonderful food and traditional serberts (herb and fruit drinks); Ciya becomes an instant favorite for locals and tourists alike.
    Upon entering Ciya a display of various cold meze greet you just inside the door, across from this "cold salad bar" you will find the hot dishes. Staffed by an always smiling chef the choices here range from "kirazli kofte" small meat balls and cherries cooked together in an aromatic sauce to falafel to stuffed artichokes to unpronounceable vegetable to many other strange and wonderful foods. All the food is seasonal and there are always vegetarian options. Not to be forgotten are the desserts, ranging from candied walnuts and tomatoes to a special type of Turkish Fig ice cream. The original Ciya Sofrasi has expanded to include a second and larger location just down the street on the right as well as Ciya Kebab for the meat eater which is directly across from Ciya Sofrasi. This restaurant demands a visit from any food lover and is guaranteed to please.

    Good for: atmosphere, food, Solo Travellers, service

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