Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Introduce
For New Jersey residents seeking a truly authentic, diverse, and delightful Mediterranean dining experience, **Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant** in Clifton stands as a premier destination. More than just a simple eatery, it functions as a comprehensive **Turkish restaurant, Cafe, and Middle Eastern restaurant**, bringing the vibrant flavors and hospitality of Istanbul right to Main Avenue. This establishment is celebrated not only for its extensive menu but also for creating an inviting atmosphere that is at once **Casual, Cozy, Romantic, and Trendy**.
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant offers a culinary journey that spans all parts of the day. They are particularly renowned for their authentic **Turkish Breakfast**, featuring items like **Menemen** (a classic Turkish egg dish), **Simit**, and full breakfast plates, consistently garnering high praise from customers. This makes it an ideal spot for an early morning meal or a leisurely weekend **Brunch**.
For lunch and dinner, the menu expands into an impressive selection of traditional Turkish fare. Central to their offerings are the high-quality **Kebabs**, including **Lamb Shish Kebab**, **Chicken Shish Kebab**, and unique preparations like **Iskender** and **Sarma Beyti**. Additionally, their authentic Turkish flatbreads, known as **Pide**, baked in a brick oven with various toppings like **Diced Beef**, **Sujuk**, or **Feta Cheese**, are a must-try. The restaurant proudly offers **Halal food**, making it a reliable and inclusive choice for the local community.
The commitment to quality extends to their beverage and dessert programs, featuring a **Great coffee** and **Great tea selection**, including traditional **Turkish Coffee** and **Turkish Tea**. The homemade **Dessert** selection, from rich **Baklava With Pistachios** to the classic milk pudding **Kazandibi** and the specialty **Home Made Kunefe**, provides a perfect finish to any meal. This blend of authentic cuisine, comprehensive service, and exceptional quality solidifies Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant's reputation as a food haven in Northern New Jersey.
***
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant is conveniently located at **1378 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA**. Situated on a main road, the restaurant is easily accessible for patrons traveling from various parts of Clifton and the greater Passaic County area. Its high-visibility location supports its popularity as both a daily stop and a destination dining spot.
The restaurant is dedicated to providing comprehensive accessibility, a crucial feature for the community. It offers:
- **Wheelchair accessible entrance**
- **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**
- **Wheelchair accessible restroom**
- **Wheelchair accessible seating**
Parking is made simple with the provision of a **Free parking lot** and **On-site parking**, helping to minimize the typical parking challenges of a busy urban area. Furthermore, the dining area is welcoming to families, equipped with **High chairs** and offering a dedicated **Kids' menu**, demonstrating that the venue is **Good for kids**. For convenience, the restaurant accepts various payment forms, including **Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments**.
***
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant offers an extensive range of services designed for maximum customer satisfaction and convenience.
- **Dine-in:** Provides comfortable **Seating** and **Table service** in a beautifully decorated setting suitable for a **Romantic** or casual meal.
- **Outdoor seating:** Available for guests who prefer to dine al fresco.
- **Takeout and Delivery:** Offers highly reliable **Takeout** and **Delivery** services, including **Curbside pickup** and **No-contact delivery**.
- **Reservations:** **Accepts reservations**, with **Brunch reservations recommended** and **Dinner reservations recommended**, particularly for peak times.
- **Comprehensive Dining:** Serves a full range of meals, including **Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert**.
- **Catering Potential:** While not explicitly listed as catering, the extensive menu of platters and large format dishes suggests capability for group orders.
- **Quick Service:** Offers **Quick bite** and **Small plates** options for those on a tight schedule.
***
What sets Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant apart in the New Jersey dining scene are these key features:
- **Authentic Turkish Breakfast:** A signature offering, praised for its flavor and authenticity, featuring dishes like **Menemen** and **Simit**.
- **Halal Certified Menu:** All meat offerings, including kebabs and grilled items, are certified **Halal food**, serving the community with confidence.
- **Brick Oven Specialties:** Features authentic Turkish flatbreads (**Pide** and **Lahmacun**) baked in a specialized brick oven, a true mark of authenticity.
- **Exceptional Beverage Program:** Known for a **Great coffee** selection (including Turkish Coffee) and a **Great tea selection**, along with traditional Turkish drinks like **Ayran** (Yogurt Drink) and **Turnip Juice (Salgam)**.
- **Homemade Desserts:** Offers a wide array of homemade, authentic Turkish desserts, including **Home Made Kunefe**, **Kazandibi**, and **Baklava**.
- **Diverse Entrées:** Menu includes classic Turkish **Kebabs** (Shish, Adana, Kofte), seafood (**Bronzino**, **Salmon**), and premium **Grilled Steaks** (**NY Strip**, **Ribeye**).
- **Inclusivity and Atmosphere:** Provides a versatile atmosphere that transitions well from casual family dining to a more **Romantic** setting, complete with complimentary **Wi-Fi** for guests.
- **Dietary Options:** Extensive offerings for **Vegan options** and **Vegetarian options**, ensuring everyone finds a satisfying meal.
***
To plan your visit, make a reservation, or place a takeout/delivery order, please use the following contact details:
**Address:** 1378 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA
**Phone:** (862) 238-8888 (Local)
**Mobile Phone:** +1 862-238-8888
***
For New Jersey residents, choosing Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant is choosing an exceptional and multi-faceted dining experience rooted in authentic Turkish culture and cuisine. The sheer depth of the menu, combined with its high quality and welcoming service, makes it an outstanding value.
The single most compelling reason to visit is to experience the authentic **Turkish Breakfast** or **Brunch**. Customers describe it as a "best breakfast experience" with spacious portions, making it ideal for groups. Be sure to try the savory **Menemen** or the expansive **Breakfast plate** for a true taste of Turkish morning tradition.
For lunch or dinner, the specialty items should be your focus. Do not leave without trying a dish from the **Brick Oven Specials**—the authentic **Pide** with a filling like **Sujuk** or **Feta Cheese** is a delicious flatbread experience. For meat lovers, the **Kebab Combo With Lamb Chops** offers a superb variety of their high-quality, Halal-certified grilled meats.
Finally, the dessert and coffee program is a significant draw. The restaurant's **Great coffee** and extensive selection of homemade Turkish desserts, such as the creamy **Kazandibi** or the unique **Home Made Kunefe**, offer a perfect, authentic end to your meal. The commitment to a cozy, inviting, and fully accessible environment only enhances its status as a must-visit Clifton establishment.
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Menu
Sahanda Sujuk
- Sahanda Sujuk $12.90
Sliced sujuk
Pogoca
- Cheese Pogoca $3.75
Seafood
- Bronzino $30.80
Served with mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes.
- Salmon $27.50
served with potato puree and fresh vegtables
- Shrimp Kebab $24.20
- Shrimp Casserole $24.20
pan seared shrimp with sauteed vegatables, creamy tomato sauce with mozzerella cheese
Sides
- Rice $0.00
- Bulgur $0.00
- French Fries $8.80
Toast
- Avocado Toast $15.40
- Sujuk/Kashkaval Cheese Toast $13.00
- Kashkaval Cheese Toast $10.90
- Chef Special Toast $15.00
Sujuk, Mayonnaise, pickles, tomato sauce and cheese toasted on bread in a panini press
- Pastrami/Kashkaval Cheese Toast $13.00
Cold Beverages
- Mint Lemonade $6.60
Freshly blended lemon, mint and ice
- Fresh Lemonade $4.40
- Iced Coffee $7.60
- Cane Cola (Glass Bottle) $3.30
- Bottled Water 1.5 Lt $6.60
- Gazoz $2.75
- Sparkling Water $8.00
- Mineral Water $2.20
- Brisk Iced Tea $2.75
- Fresh Orange Juice $8.80
- Fruit Juice $2.20
- Can Soda $2.75
- Turnip Juice (Salgam) $4.40
- Snapple $3.30
- Bottled Water 0.5 Lt $2.20
- Ayran (Yogurt Drink) $4.40
Dessert
- Opera $8.80
Layers of sponge cake soaked in coffee, layered with ganache and coffee, French buttercream and covered in a chocolate glaze.
- Home Made Tiramusu $8.80
- Kabak Tatlısı (Pumpkin Dessert) $11.00
Candied Pumpkin. Peeled and cut up squash topped with a homemade syrup.
- Kazandibi $7.70
a Turkish dessert and a type of caramelized milk pudding. It was developed in the kitchens of the Ottoman Palace and is one of the most popular Turkish desserts today. It is traditionally made by burning the bottom of the pudding.
- Baklava Half Portion $4.40
Two Pieces of Baklava
- Home Made Rice Pudding $7.70
- Home Made Tres Leches $8.80
- Baklava Slice $2.20
- Homemade Profiterol $8.80
Homemade chocolate pudding with cream puffs inside topped with topped with chocolate shavings and ground pistachios
- Cookies $5.50
Assortment of 3 cookies: Chocolate chip Oatmeal Raisin Sugar Cookie Red Velvet
- Şekerpare $8.25
(3 Pieces) A classic Turkish dessert, combines buttery semolina dough and cocoa drizzled with sweet syrup for a delightful treat
- Kadayif $6.60
Thinly shredded pastry with nuts and drizzled with syrup.
- Home Made Almond Pudding $7.70
- Baklava With Pistachios $8.25
Four pieces of baklava with crushed pistachios
- Home Made Kunefe $11.00
Grilled Steaks
- NY Strip $36.00
- Ribeye $40.00
Sandwiches
- Chicken Adana Sandwich $11.00
- Gyro Sandwich $12.10
- Falafel Sandwich $11.00
- Meatball Sandwich $12.10
- Lamb Adana Sandwich $12.10
- Chicken Kebab Sandwich $11.00
- Lamb Kebab Sandwich $12.10
Breakfast Extras
- Cheese Plate $6.55
- Hashbrown $6.55
- Sovus $5.45
- Simit $2.75
Fresh made daily Turkish style bread with sesame seeds
- Boiled Egg (Haslanmis) $2.50
- Pastrami Plate (4 Slices) $5.45
- Olive Plate $4.35
Omelette
- Vegetable Omelet $13.00
Peppers, onion, mushroom, tomato
- Omelette $12.00
Gozleme
- Ground Beef Gozleme $14.30
- Potato Gozleme $13.20
- Spinach Gozleme $13.20
- Cheese Gozleme $13.20
Kebabs
- Chicken Meatballs (Kofte) $23.00
- Istanbul Mixed Grill $49.50
- Lamb Adana $24.10
- Mixed Chicken Grill $37.40
Combination of chicken shish, chicken adana, chicken chops and chicken kofte
- Chicken Shish Kebab $23.00
- Kebab Combo With Lamb Chops $27.50
Choice of 1
- Gyro $21.90
Tender veal thinly sliced and broiled.
- Kebab Combo $25.00
- Lamb Shish Kebab $25.20
Lean chunks of lamb skewered and grilled.
- Iskender $24.20
Sliced gyro served over buttered bread and topped with a savory tomato sauce and yogurt.
- Lamb Chops $38.40
- Kofte Kebab (Grilled Meatballs) $21.90
- Chicken Adana $23.00
- Chicken Chops $24.10
Grilled boneless chicken thigh.
- Sarma Beyti $24.20
Grilled adana kebab wrapped in a lawash(thin bread) topped with tomato sauce and yogurt pistachio and melted butter
Brick Oven Specials
- Pide With Diced Beef $18.70
A thick dough crust topped with diced beef, tomatoes, and peppers.
- Pide With Spinach And Feta $17.60
- Lahmacun $5.50
2 per order
- Pide With Sujuk $19.80
- Pide With Roasted Beef $20.90
- Pide With Feta Cheese $17.60
A thick dough crust topped with feta cheese.
- Round Special Pide $20.90
- Round Special Mixed Pide $28.30
Diced beef, sujuk, pastrami, cheese, tomato, peppers and spices
- Pide With Keshkaval Cheese $17.60
- Pide With Groundbeef $18.70
- Pide With Pastrami $19.80
A thick dough crust topped with pastrami.
- Etli Ekmek $18.70
Konya style pide. A thick dough crust topped with a mixture of ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and green peppers.
- Mixed Pide $24.20
diced beef, sujuk,pastrami,cheese, tomato,peppers and spices
Soups
- Red Lentil Soup $0.00
Ezogelin.
- Soup Of The Day $0.00
Cold Appetizers
- Eggplant Sauce $8.80
- Babaganoush $8.80
- Piyaz $8.80
- Spicy Vegetable Salad $8.80
minced tomatoes, peppers,garlic,onion, walnut, spices, olive oil and lemon juice
- Mixed Appetizer Plate (6) $27.50
Choice of 6 cold appetizers
- Hummus $8.80
Mashed chickpeas blended with fresh garlic, sesame paste, and fresh herbs.
- Stuffed Grape Leaves $8.80
Made in-house grape leaves stuffed with special seasons, rice and pine nuts, drizzled with olive oil
- Lebne $8.80
creamed yogurt, garlic, dill, walnuts
- Cacik $8.80
Homemade yogurt mixed with chopped cucumber, garlic, mint,dill and spices
Chef's Specials
- Manti $24.20
Turkish dumplings served with garlic yogurt and melted spiced butter
- Penne Pasta $24.20
- Ali Nazik $27.50
Sauteed lamb or chicken with fresh vegtables on a bed of grilled eggplant puree, with tomato sauce and spices
- Sac Kavurma $24.20
sauteedlamb with peppers,onions, tomato and spices served on a hot skillet
- Cheese Burger $22.00
- Lamb Shank $33.00
Oven roasted with potato puree,fresh sauteed vegtables and au jus sauce
- Vegetable Casserole $23.10
- Tagliatelle Pasta $25.30
- Lamb Lokum $26.40
- Okra $22.00
- Chicken Saute $23.10
Sauteed Chicken with peppers, onions, tomato and spices served on a hot skillet
Salad
- Avocado Salad $17.60
- Mediterranean Salad $16.50
- Pomegranate Salad $19.80
- Shepherd Salad $0.00
Hot Beverages
- Cappuccino $5.50
- Turkish Tea $0.00
- Espresso $4.40
- Hot Chocolate $4.40
- Salep $4.40
- Turkish Coffee $7.50
- Latte $5.50
- Herbal Tea $6.60
- Coffee $2.75
Kids
- Kids Meatballs $11.00
- Nuggets With Fries $11.00
- Kids Chicken Shish $11.00
- Kids Lamb Shish $13.20
Hot Appetizers
- Crispy Cheese Rolls $9.90
- Fries $8.80
- Baked Hummus With Pastrami $14.30
- Sauteed Liver $16.50
- Kibbeh $13.20
Kofte made of bulgur and stuffed with minced onions, ground red meat, walnuts, parsley, and mixed spices.
- Falafel With Hummus $11.00
French Toast
- French Toast $9.90
Eggs
- Menemen $11.90
- Sunny Side Up Eggs $9.90
Pancakes
- Nutella Pancakes $11.00
- Pancakes $9.90
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Curbside pickup
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Halal food
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- On-site parking
- Parking
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Photos










Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Location
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant
1378 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA
Istanbul Cafe and Restaurant Reviews
breakfasttipmixed grilllambappetizermediterranean foodgyroprayerpidebakery
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1We stopped in for breakfast and had such a great experience. The place feels inviting and comfortable. We tried the breakfast plate and menemen, and both were delicious. This is definitely a spot we’d come back to.
September 09 · SalmaAbsolute food haven! We were 2 and ordered a breakfast and a simit plate - ended up packing the leftovers for later😄 it was so spacious and pleasantly decorated inside. The staff were friendly and attentive. Best breakfast experience. I have no doubt anything else we chose would’ve been just as great.
July 26 · K. Ay (Sara)🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟We came to Paterson, New Jersey from Canada and had an amazing experience at İstanbul Cafe and Restaurant with my family for a traditional Turkish breakfast for four.There were over 20 different items on our table — olives, cheese, jam, menemen, su böreği, sigara böreği, honey and clotted cream, simit, tea, and so much more. Everything was fresh and incredibly delicious. It truly reflected authentic Turkish cuisine.The ambiance was just as impressive as the food — elegant, spacious, and peaceful. We enjoyed our breakfast in a very pleasant setting. The staff were also very kind and attentive.Highly recommended for anyone who misses a real Turkish breakfast or wants to experience an authentic taste of Türkiye. We’ll definitely be coming back! 🇹🇷🫖🥐
July 27 · Feyzullah 35We were amazed by the food — everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, with generous portions and a great variety of dishes that made the whole meal unforgettable.
August 09 · ZiaBeautiful restaurant with plenty of options to choose from. We ordered the 6 choice sampler and crispy cheese rolls for appetizers. Everything was delicious, and the bread was fresh and plentiful. For entrée, I ordered the choose 2 kebabs. Everything was fresh and great quality. We all left satisfied.
May 28 · Samantha
More restaurants near me

1330 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1330 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1326 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1341 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1489 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

450 Getty Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1500 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1295 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1295 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1293 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1291 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA

1279 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011, USA
Categories
Top Visited Sites






Top Searches
Trending Dining Insights Posts





