Anatolian Kitchen

CLOSED
Just to confirm an earlier post. I went by today and it is definitely closed.

Right about now I really wish I could give a place six stars. Or perhaps I should just go back and dock a star from every other review I’ve written to date so as to make this place stand out in high relief… Okay, maybe I’m a little over-​exuberant at the moment, but I just stumbled upon the unassuming Anatolian Kitchen (basically I got caught in a maze of one-​way streets in the Tenderloin, drove by this place six times, and finally interpreted this as a calling of sorts and decided to give it a try), had an extraordinary meal for under $ 10, and am now feeling gleeful.
My meal was a plate of chicken kabobs, which came with basmati rice, cabbage salad, and beets. The kabobs themselves were perfectly spiced and incredibly tender (the kind of tender that makes you wonder if you’re actually eating real chunks of chicken or some mechanically-​separated and re-​formed version thereof). The meal came with a starter plate of hummus, carrot salad, and green beans along with a loaf of fresh-​from-​the-​oven flat-​bread that I haven’t stopped thinking about since.
The ambiance was unpretentious, but decidedly quainter than your typical Tenderloin hole-​in-​the-​wall. The service was attentive (caring, even) and humble.
My only hope is that this gem on the perimeter of the Tenderloin gets discovered and properly patronized soon, as only one other customer ate here between 8 and 9 pm on the Saturday night that I was there, and it would be a shame for this place not to be here in a few months…

I somehow had no idea I worked just a few blocks from this gem. Neither did anyone else, evidently. For when my friend and I walked in here, there were no other customers to be seen. I trusted Unilocal,however, and not the no-​shows.
We got a chicken sandwich and a spinach with cheese pizza. It came with a large platter of «The Best Cauliflower Ever™,» eggplant, yummy bread which is evidently the main ingredient for everything, and salad.
The spinach with cheese pizza was excellent. The sandwich was good, and made better with a unhealthy dollop of the yogurt.
The amount of food for the money is a real steal at this place. I’ll definitely be coming back. Even if no one else does.

I met up with Stuart M. for a delightful lunch at this great little place today!
However, before I get into how good this place is, I have to remind folks of how unsavory the area can be. I usually walk swiftly and keep to myself, but today at the intersection of Taylor and Turk I got caught in a gridlock of pedestrians and someone took the opportunity to cop a feel. Thankfully, he missed but I still feel dirty… eww! I’m sure the location of this fine establishment is the reason why, during our hour long lunch, the only thing that entered after us was a loose page of this week’s forgotten Guardian. It was absolutely empty from beginning to end, but that’s not an indication of the quality.
So, in hopes that another good review might bring them more business, I’m here to tell the tale of a fine lunch! Stu and I shared the Chicken Shish Sandwich and the Spinach and Cheese Pizza. Our meal was preceded by a yummy veggie plate with, as Stu mentioned, The Best Cauliflower Ever! It really was good. I think it might have been boiled first, then grilled? Then smothered in yogurt… mmmm! They also gave us bread, which seems to be the same bread used for the sandwich and the pizza — but who cares? It was really good! The Sandwich was a little light on the Chicken Shish, but still really tasty. The highlight was the Spinach and Cheese Pizza which was so yummy and goo-​ey! I’d love to go back for their pizza again someday!
Thanks for lunch Stu and great to see you!

After searching high and low for a new lunch place close to work that has new and interesting food, we stumbled across Anatolian Kitchen. It’s in a terrible neighborhood, but it’s worth it. I usually get the #2 chicken dish or the buffet. Portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The chicken is high quality, perfectly cooked (not dry at all) and flavorful. Definitely a hidden gem.

UPDATE:
Looks like the joint is closed… :(
Happy now «Fallopian Swim Team D.»???
— - — - — -
Right now, I am about to pass out.
Why? I just had the buffet plate for a tenner from the Anatolian Kitchen…
It comes with lamb, lamb, chicken, and lamb. Oh and all the super fresh and creative salady sides you can bear… All plated by a pleasant staff.
While this hood is certainly one of the worst areas of SF proper, it’s worth it.

i think i am in love. the food itself is just okay. the freshly baked bread is hot and steamy, but they seem to drown everything else in yogurt. however, i am giving it 4 stars anyway for the following reasons:
primarily, i really like cheap food in large quantities and anatolian kitchen delivers on both points. $ 5 for a turkish pizza that will last me at least two more meals? FUCK YES. secondly, even better than cheap stuff is free stuff. i LOVE free stuff, and there was a lot of it here. they comped us a free plate of appetizers AND tea AND rice pudding. finally, the service at this place is amazing. my friend dropped her knife, bent down to pick it up, and by the time she raised her head again, the waitress had ALREADY PUT DOWN an entirely new set of silverware. our table was so enamored by the waitress that we ended up gladly tipping an inordinately large amount. overtipping is a big deal for me. being chinese, i am usually against tipping more than the requisite amount (double the tax, maybe a little more if i’m drunk and feeling generous). i despise going out with people who insist on tipping like 50% of the total meal price, because then i feel obligated to pay more or look like a cheapskate bitch (usually i opt for the latter because i’m still in school, and i’m not made out of money, okay? whatever, don’t judge, YOU DON’T KNOW ME.)
anyway. yes, it’s in a shady neighborhood, the ambiance is nonexistent, and the food is mediocre. just go. do it to «support your local business» or whatever. do it because you have $ 10 in your checking account (true story) and want a hot meal that isn’t a burrito for once. do it because you have a sudden craving for turkish food on your weekly visit to your crack dealer. i don’t care. just go.

HOLY CRAP, THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!
Yes, it’s in one of the worst parts of town, but the food is wonderful and the prices are astonishingly low. When people say this place is cheap they aren’t kidding! Their Turkish pizzas are all in the $ 4.50-$ 5.60 range, much better than most personal pizzas at crapholes like California Pizza Kitchen, and come with a side salad. Three pizzas, fried eggplant slices, two loaves of bread (free!) and a sampler veggie plate (free!) came to a total of $ 21 even!
I hate the neighborhood this place is in and try to avoid it as much as possible, but I’ll definitely go back just so I can visit this restaurant. No cracked-​out, street-​peeing bum is going to get between me and the Anatolian Kitchen!
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The review by «Fallopian Swim Team D.» is just as retarded as his username is, and totally inaccurate. Also note that he doesn’t mention the prices anywhere in his review, and then suggests that you go to «better» places that cost twice as much.
NEWSFLASH TO FALLOPIAN: Prices should be factored into your review. When I was there everything was prepared fresh, and since the prices at Anatolian are cheaper than McDonald’s I can handle a couple screaming crackheads on the sidewalk. If you don’t like it, don’t sit so close to the door.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
The Anatolian Kitchen, the one right around the corner from my place which I’ve been to numerous times, has gotten an average of FIVE STARS?
Okay, let me clear up your misconceptions: First off, this place has been, in the distant past, worthy of the six star average. This cute little hole-​in-​the-​wall Turkish joint opened up about a year ago in full force. I stopped by within the first week, and their food was on the mark.
Since then, they’ve lost steam. They do still serve «on the house» appetizers, tea, etc. But, when it comes to the entrée you ordered, it’s mediocre.
In reality, I’m not sure why I’m writing this blunt review, because I couldn’t be happier to have a decent Turkish joint right around the corner from my T-​Loin home. I hope they stay– I ‘d just like it better if next time the food has improved and I don’t walk out with food comma.
So keep frequenting this place– it’s worth it for a quick bite, esp if you’re on the way to the Warfield or other local venues.
And FYI– CASH ONLY.

Unilocal to the rescue!
If we keep giving great marks to this nice little Turkish restaurant, maybe we can save it from obscurity! Do not fear its location, the bums won’t touch you if your breath smells like lahmacun!
Had a great dinner here last night, but by the time we were done (about 8pm), we left the restaurant empty. They deserve more customers, people!
Do you like freshly baked bread? So good that you brave minor burns in your moth and keep stuffing it in? Also, with the bread you get a full on meze platter for FREE. It’s got the usuals like hummus, salad, and dolma, but also a few morsels of yummy deep fried cauliflower with yogurt and carrots with yogurt. Side note: you will learn to love plain yogurt at this place…
The entrees were decent, I got the Antep kebap (ground beef kebab over bread, with yogurt and peppers) and the DH got the chicken and mushroom gondola pizza (he chose like a white boy. We don’t do chicken and mushroom in Turkey. Be a man and get something meaty…)
I grew up in Turkey so I am used to very good Turkish food, so to be honest, I’d give this place 2.5 stars for food if it were in Istanbul, but by being located within 3 miles of my San Francisco home, they get 4!
And the location? I actually love it that it’s in the Tenderloin. T-​loin means there is tons of parking! The parking was so good that I parked right in front of the restaurant. It sounds like other diners got this privilege, too. But then again, I found myself watching everyone walking by my car and checking their hands for baseball bats and keys… Maybe I’m better off not seeing the car.

***sad to hear this place closed, what a shame***
What! This place is SO GREAT it inspired me to write this, my first Unilocal review! Since I found it through Unilocal,I figured the least I could do was keep the buzz going.
The food was delicious and so cheap — plus we got free bread and an appetizer plate. Our waitress was adorable and sweet. The décor was a bit boring but clean. YES — the neighborhood is awful, but no one bothered us. It’s the Tenderlion, enough said.
This place is everything I love about San Francisco. Unusual food, a complete absence of all the terrors of chain restaurants, and great prices. You feel like you’re supporting an independent business in a neighborhood that sorely needs it, and getting a great bargain on well-​crafted, authentic (from what I hear) ethnic food at the same time.
My only regret was that I didn’t have enough room for dessert. Or even the tea our waitress offered after we had paid the bill! I wish this restaurant were in MY neighborhood.

Let’s make this short: small gem, delicious food, warm, friendly service, fabulous food, love pours from the chef to his food, generous portions, and the food is very good. Oh, i almost forgot, the middle eastern food here is some of the tastiest I have ever had. Try the lamejeune, the marinated appetizers (carrots, cauliflower), tenderest stuffed grape leaves I have ever eaten. Most meals come with a warm, fresh-​baked loaf of bread.

I parked up the street a few blocks around Ellis and Taylor and then nervously slalomed my way down the hill past the bums and crack addicts. Just as 2 of them started to accost me, I ducked inside AK. I was joined shortly thereafter by 6 other bros and we wasted no time in taking over 3 tables and ordering half of the menu.
The waitress was timid, but very pleasant. In fact, her pleasantness was continually enhanced as she brought us free bread and then 2 free plates of vegetables drowned in yogurt, courtesy of the generous chef. I actually can’t recall ever eating Turkish food before. It’s very similar to any other mediterranean cuisine, but Turkish must mean «slathered in yogurt» because everything we ordered was doused in the shit. This is not a gripe, mind you. Everything on our table was stupid delicious! (except maybe the pizza, which was average).
We finished with the Kunefe for dessert (more awesomeness) and then I rolled outside into the night to try to make my way back to my vehicle without getting robbed or murdered, ruminating about the awesome meal I was beginning to digest and already trying to concoct excuses to find myself back at AK for some more yogurt slathered goodness.

When my wife and I visited Istanbul several years ago, we really loved the food. Kebab, yogurt sauce, vegetarian mezes– so good. Course we did get sick after eating kebab every day for many days in a row but all in good fun.
Found this place on Unilocal the other night while in the City with a rumbling stomach and a pocket PC. Where to eat, where to eat? Unilocalsters gave this joint a solid review so off to the Tenderloin we went.
Parking tip: if you don’t want to leave your car amid the throng of homeless, addicts, prostitutes, and street crazies, I suggest avoiding the Taylor/​Turk gauntlet and instead park either on Golden Gate or a street up on Jones. What a difference a block makes.
My wife ordered ground beef kebab with rice and I ordered a succulent lamb dish in yogurt sauce over chunks of bread that the waitress recommended. As we waited for our entrees, she came back with a delightful plate of mezes: dolmas, carrots with yogurt, grilled eggplant, some beans. Totally unexpected and delicious to boot! She served it with a smile and answered my dumb questions like «What is this?» She was really sweet.
Next came the entrees. My wife got 4 huge meatball-​like grilled kebabs. Expertly spiced and I saw the chef form the kebabs in his hands prior to grilling so they were as fresh and juicy as can be. It came with rice and side salad, very generous helping. My lamb dish was so good– when I said succulent before I really meant it. Tender strips of lamb braised in a marvelous tomato-​based sauce with dollops of yogurt to complement– all over slices of this fresh bread that I’m pretty sure is baked on the premises. We would happily order both dishes again, a sure sign of excellent food.
Shortly after she served our entrees, the waitress came back and surprised us again, this time with two glasses of sour cherry juice. I guess the closest thing I can compare it with is cranberry juice but it didn’t leave that chalky/​astringent feeling in your mouth like cranberry juice does and it really wasn’t all that sour. Just really pleasant and a refreshing bonus.
When finally we were satisfied, I asked for the check and what happened then? Why our waitress with the sweet smile came back with dessert– chilled rice pudding! Mmmm just the thing to top off a great meal– sweet and creamy with rice grains that were still al dente. Wonderful!
The check did arrive and get this: the bill with tax was just over $ 20. The meze plate, sour cherry drinks, and dessert were all either a) included in the meal, b) just plain free b/​c we looked like nice people, or c) a Turkish tradition at a great restaurant with a chef who obviously knows what he’s doing and a server who is the nicest gal this side of the Bosphorus.
Go to Anatolian Kitchen and leave very happy.

Maybe I am being overzealous giving this place five stars, but my dinner was fantastic. There isn’t really any atmosphere, but the food was so good (and cheap) I barely noticed. It’s great for vegetarians, I ordered their mezze plate and all the appetizers on it were meat free (if you are a meat eater, there are plenty of things for you– don’t worry).
The people that work there are extremely friendly, the man behind the counter came out and gave us free rice pudding and Turkish tea for dessert. The rice pudding was a litte on the sweet side, but very good. I will definitely go back. Despiet the sketchy address, this place is definitely worth the trip if you like Turkish and Middle Eastern food! Tell all your friends too, it wasn’t very busy tonight and I really want to see this place make it!

When I was in the Cappadocia region in central Turkey (i.e., Anatolia) a few years ago, one of the addictions I picked up was Turkish pizza at the roadside cafes. The places were odd actually — no women and no one talks… just bearded men all in rows of long tables eating their pizza and drinking their glass cups of mint tea. Not a Diet Coke to be had within the country.
But I have to tell you that pizza was great. No cheese, no tomato sauce… just a lot of ground lamb, chopped onions, spices and olive oil, sometimes with slices of hard boiled egg embedded in it. It was honestly delish and something I have not been able to duplicate… until now.
Right next to the Golden Gate Theater is this homey Turkish delight that specializes in all sorts of unpronounceable native dishes. And I found my pizza… it’s called lahmacun, and it’s a reasonably priced $ 3.50 for a small one. They do some American modifications as they use ground beef instead of lamb and add tomatoes, but they do get points for adding eggs for a dollar surcharge. Brought me back to Istanbul and the hammans… and the naked… but I digress.
They also offer a $ 9.90 lunch/​dinner special where you get one entrée, salad and soup, dessert and a soda. Or you can go a la carte as they have kebabs for days — lamb, beef, chicken — you name it, they got it for between $ 8.90 and $ 11.90. But I have to say I love the braised lamb shank when it’s available since it falls off the bone just like great osso bucco. The zucchini boats are a tasty veg option with loads of spiced rice in them. They also offer cold mezes in the $ 3 – 4 range and salads where you have to decide between the Anatolian ($ 3.40) and the Greek ($ 3.90)…one has feta cheese, the other has red onions.
Of course, they have some world-​class homemade baklava for $ 2.40, but my favorite sweet is the kunepe ($ 3.50), which is shredded phyllo dough, baked hot with a cheese center and dripping in syrup. They are super-​friendly there too, though be patient as the young server does not speak much English.
FOOD — 4 stars… Turkish delights abound… and that roadside pizza has been found… hallelujah!
AMBIANCE — 3 stars… just a no-​frills simple space in the dicey ‘hood just above Sixth Street
SERVICE — 4 stars… friendly…and you probably get extra points if you can dance the whirling dervish
TOTAL — 4 stars… it’s new, so give them a try… with Tajine gone, where else are you going to go?