Cafe Istanbul Manchester is a Turkish restaurant and bar at 79-81 Bridge Street in the city centre. Established more than forty years ago, it has become a longstanding destination close to Deansgate. Warm colours and attentive service create a setting suited to casual meals, dates and larger celebrations.
Hot and cold meze introduce the range of Turkish cooking through hummus, cacik, stuffed vine leaves, grilled aubergine and savoury pastries. Handmade pide and lahmacun bring freshly baked dough into the selection. Sharing several starters allows a table to balance creamy, smoky, crisp and fresh flavours before the main course.
Charcoal grilled kebabs are a central speciality, alongside oven baked dishes, seafood and substantial vegetarian choices. Lamb, chicken and vegetables are prepared with herbs, spices and traditional accompaniments. The restaurant offers halal dining, while guests with allergies should confirm current ingredients and kitchen practices with staff.
Baklava, rice pudding and künefe provide distinctly Turkish finishes, with Turkish coffee offering a final aromatic note. Wine, beer, cocktails and alcohol free drinks broaden the occasion. Cafe Istanbul Manchester combines a deep local history with generous food and the convivial rhythm of a traditional Turkish meal.
Address: 79-81 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 2RH, United Kingdom
Cafe Istanbul City Centre Menu
Sharing Meze
Vegetarian Meze
A colourful selection of vegetarian favourites, ideal for sharing falafel, cheese rolls, stuffed vine leaves, grilled halloumi, tzatiki and hummus.
Cold Mixed Meze
A refreshing assortment of classic cold dips and starters cacik, hummus, babaganoush, pink sultana, vine leaves.
Mixed Meze Selection
A balanced mix of hot and cold favourites for a full taste tourmeatballs, falafel, stuffed vine leaves, cheese rolls, sucuk, grilled halloumi, tzatziki, houmous.
Hot Starters
Homemade Soup
Freshly prepared each day. Please ask your server for today’s selection.
Spicy Turkish Sausage (Sucuk)
Traditional spiced beef sausage, grilled until rich and aromatic.
Grilled Halloumi
Char-grilled halloumi with a golden crust and soft savoury centre.
Falafel
Crispy chickpea fitters blended with herbs and gentle spices.
Calamari with Taratar Sauce
Tender squid rings in a light crisp coating, served with taratar sauce.
King Prawns with Sweet Chilli
Juicy king prawns sauteed and finished with a sweet chilli glaze.
Hand-rolled Meatballs
Seasoned minced lamb meatballs, pan-seared for depth of flavour.
Cheese Rolls
Crisp filo pastry filled with feta, parsley, and melted mozzarella.
Findik Lahmacun Bites
Mini baked flatbreads topped with finely seasoned minced lamb.
Hummus & Lamb
Creamy hummus finished with warm slices of seasoned lamb doner.
Cold Starters
Mediterranean Olives
Selection of marinated olives served chilled.
Yaprak Dolma
Tender vine leaves filled with fragrant rice and herbs.
Cacik
Refreshing yogurt with cucumber, garlic, and mint.
Hummus
Smooth chickpea puree blended with tahini, olive oil, and lemon.
Baba Ganoush
Smoky roasted aubergine dip finished with olive oil and citrus.
Carrot Tarator
Sweet carrots folded into creamy garlic yogurt.
Pink Sultana
Blending boiled beetroot with garlic, and Greek yogurt for a creamy.
Oven Dishes
Vegetable Moussaka
Layers of vegetables baked in a rich tomato sauce, served with rice.
ETLI Lamb Moussaka
Classic moussaka with minced lamb and vegetables, served with rice.
Ottoman Saj Tava Lamb
Diced lamb cooked with peppers, onion, herbs and sauce, served with rice.
Ottoman Saj Tava Chicken
Diced chicken cooked with peppers, onion, herbs and sauce, served with rice.
Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank/Kunckle
Slow-cooked on the bone with mash and vegetables, finished with tomato sauce.
Hand-Made Pide
Minced Lamb Flatbread (Lahmacun)
Thin stone-baked flatbread topped with finely spiced minced lamb, served with salad.
Cheese Pide
Boat-shaped Turkish bread filled with melted cheese.
Cheese Pide & Sucuk
Spicy sucuk sausages baked with bubbling cheese.
Ispanakli Pide
Fresh spinach and cheese finished with a softly baked egg.
Kiymail Pide
Traditional pide topped with seasoned minced lamb.
Kiymail Pide & Cheese
Classic lamb pide enriched with melted cheese.
Chargrill
Chicken Shish
Marinated chicken cubes skewered and chargrilled over open flames.
Lamb Shish
Tender marinated lamb skewers grilled for a smoky finish.
Adana Kebab
Hand-minced spiced lamb blended with spices and grilled on a skewer.
Lamb Chops
Marinated lamb chops chargrilled to perfection.
Chicken Wings
Flame-grilled wings seasoned in traditional spices.
Combination Grills
Lamb Shish & Lamb Doner
A perfect pairing of lamb skewer and sliced lamb doner.
Lamb Shish & Chicken Doner
Lamb skewer served with tender slices of chicken doner.
Chicken Shish & Chicken Doner
Chargrilled chicken skewer with slices of chicken doner.
Chicken Shish & Lamb Doner
Chargrilled chicken skewer with slices of lamb doner.
Lamb & Chicken Shish Skewers
A combination of lamb and chicken skewers, chargrilled to perfection.
Lamb Doner
Slow-roasted seasoned lamb, finely sliced and served warm.
Chicken Doner
Succulent marinated chicken, slow-cooked and delicately sliced.
Lamb Iskender
Lamb doner on toasted bread with tomato sauce and cooling yogurt.
Chicken Iskender
Chicken doner served iskender-style with tomato sauce and yogurt.
Chicken Shish & Adana Kebab
Chicken skewer paired with spiced minced lamb kebab.
Lamb Shish & Adana Kebab
Lamb skewer paired with spiced lamb kebab.
Falafel & Halloumi
Crispy falafel served with grilled halloumi, vegetables and hummus.
House Specials
Mixed Grill – For One
A generous selection of premium chargrilled meats for one.
Mixed Grill – For Two
A large mixed grill selection designed for sharing.
Chef's Special Grilled Lamb Fillet
Tender lamb fillet grilled and served with mint sauce.
Sultan's Dream
Slow-cooked lamb with raisins and almonds, served with rice.
Stuffed Chicken
Chicken breast stuffed with spinach, mushroom and cheese, served with mash and creamy garlic sauce.
Sarma Beyti
Grilled minced lamb wrapped in lavash with cheese, finished with butter and tomato sauce.
Lamb Casserole
Slow-cooked lamb with peppers, onion, mushrooms and tomato sauce.
Chicken Casserole
Tender chicken with peppers, onion, mushrooms and tomato sauce.
Seafood
Grilled Sea Bass Fillet
Delicate sea bass grilled and served with mash and creamy garlic mustard dill sauce.
King Prawns
Pan-fried prawns with chilli and garlic sauce, served with salad and vegetables.
Oven-cooked Salmon Fillet
Salmon fillet baked until tender, served with mash and creamy garlic mustard dill sauce.
Seafood Platter
A sharing platter of grilled sea bass, king prawns, salmon fillet and calamari, served with fresh salad, vegetables and house sauces.
Vegetarian Dishes
Vegetarian Casserole
Mixed vegetables cooked in rich tomato sauce and served with rice.
Vegetarian Moussaka
Baked layers of vegetables in tomato sauce, served with rice.
Sides
Chips
Golden fried chips, crisp outside and fluffy inside.
Rice
Light, fluffy steamed rice.
Lavas Bread
Soft traditional Turkish flatbread, served warm.
Garlic Bread
Freshly made in-house dough, baked to order and finished with our signature garlic butter and herbs.
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Our freshly made in-house dough topped with garlic butter, herbs and melted mozzarella.
Feta Cheese Salad
Fresh salad leaves finished with creamy feta and light dressing.
Shepherd's Salad
Chopped tomato, cucumber, onion and parsley with olive oil and lemon.
Mashed Potato
Smooth, buttery mashed potatoes.
Plain Yogurt
Cool natural yogurt to balance grilled and spiced dishes.
Kids Menu
Chicken Nuggets
Crispy golden chicken pieces, tender and mild in flavour.
Mini Burger
Small burger in a soft bun, served simply for younger guests.
Garlic Bread
Freshly made in-house dough, baked to order with signature garlic butter and herbs.
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Freshly made dough topped with garlic butter, herbs and melted mozzarella.
Chicken Strips
Tender chicken strips in a light crispy coating.
Mini Lahmacun
Small Turkish flatbread topped with lightly seasoned minced lamb.