Cafe Turko

Hm. Ordered the soup and salad and it was decent, but it feels very overpriced. (I have yet to find a decently priced and delicious place around this area!) the lentil soup was quite salty, you really had to have it with the pita bread. I enjoyed the salad a lot though! Get the salad!

By far one of the best authentic Turkish restaurants ever! While visiting Seattle and sightseeing the Fremont Troll Bridge we stumbled across this cozy place, like finding a gem in the sand. Only two blocks walking distance from the Troll, Café Turko is located on the corner. Once inside you’re transported into a turkish kitchen village, Kevin our waiter was very helpful with all our questions and the spices and dishes. We ordered the spinach hummus with pita bread, Ali Nazik Mania with chicken and lamb, Beyti Kebab with lamb and for dessert The Bird’s Net.
Wow…

This is a decent place and delicious food. We had rainbow hummus (based on glowing reviews here) and found it to be just meh. Overpriced IMO. The basic hummus was actually solid. Pita bread that came with the hummus was dry and not warm at all. Not a great start to the meal but we held on to it while we waited for entrees to come through.
For entrees, my party ordered Beyti Kabob (hands down delicious — didn’t know eggplants could taste that amazing lmao), Ali Nazik lamb (solid) and Ali Nazik chicken (outstanding). Finished off the meal with some nice rose drink, Turkish coffee, baklava and one other dessert that I cannot recall the name of.
All items were overall solid. Server was friendly and other than the stupid parking meter (you fold the bills and stick them in the box to pay), I’d go there again.

Pros: rainbow hummus plate-​the spi ache and the beet hummus were amazing. It was the only thing I enjoyed
Cons: long wait on weekday, food was cold including chicken? table of 4 we had two chicken dishes– the skewered one was better and a vegetable stew that was bland per friend. $ 6 for a cauliflower dish that had about 5 pieces on the plate and it was cold. the rice was the only thing that was warm. is that normal for this place? i also got a lemon ginger tea that was a typical store bought tea bag in aisle 6 for $ 3. maybe I should have tried the coffee instead, but it was too late in the evening. Pricy for what we got and not very attentive waitstaff. Took forever to get anything. wait staff was really a killer. PARKING is NOT easy!
I want to try it again and order something different but hesitant. maybe it was too busy? but should that encourage them to do better?

We tried their Beyti with Beef and Ali Nazik. Both were super tasty. The decoration and design of the place is pretty authentic. You would feel yourself away from the city, somewhere in the middle of Anatolia:) The staff is kind and helpful. The Beyti was the server’s suggestion and we loved it! By the way, we had a chance to see and talk to Chef Sureyya, she is the sweetest chef ever! One of the must try restaurants!

Oh man, greatest food in Seattle. Totally authentic place, beautiful staff and chef. Glad to find this place.
Be one of the members of Ali Nazik Fun Club: D

This place has by far the best Turkish food I have ever had. In fact, I had one of the most delicious food I have had. The location is also good.

The food here is without question authentic. The Ali Nazik on Fire is wonderful. Their yogurt sauce is some of the best I’ve ever had. Also, their Turkish coffee is on point. I almost always ask for cream with my coffee because few places brew it strong enough for me.
However, the service needs some serious attention. While I didn’t have to wait long to be seated during a fairly busy lunch, I did not only have time to decide what I wanted for lunch, but to read and reread the menu several times. Then, the woman who had greeted me finally took my order (9 minutes after I was given a menu). I asked for cream with my coffee, which she never brought. Thankfully I didn’t need it. When I asked for recommendations on the food, she was clearly just trying to steer me toward the more expensive option instead of listening to my preferences. My water glass sat empty for 20+ minutes while my food was being prepared and after it was dropped off – to which she said,” Here you are” and walked away. About half way through my meal, it really slowed down, and it seemed as if my server was more concerned with detailing her section than giving me good service. She wasn’t rude or anything, just aloof.
Overall, I give this place at least a 4 for food but subtract 1 – 2 for service. My suggestion is to order some takeout and enjoy your food down by the water.

I had never had Turkish cuisine before, and this offered a great exposure. The waitress offered plenty of suggestions, and the food arrived quickly. As for the actual food, it was good and flavorful. I would return, and I recommend this restaurant.

Food is great. Service is inefficient but oddly sweet. The new location has put a better face on the business. Very genuine and the olives are great. All the desserts are top notch with flavorful baklava and other sweets.
Don’t miss the very real Turkish coffee. It is an experience.

Great food! Friendly servers. The inside of this place is spacious and well decorated. One of the places I wanted to try while I’m in town on vacation, because I love Turkish food. Definitely exceeded my expectations. Will most likely come back before I go back home.

So I called in advance for a large take-​out order for a Sunday lunch on the 2^nd Sunday in April, exactly a month ago (⁴⁄₁₀). We had family friends in town and were converging on my sister and bro-in-law’s new condo, which is literally a ½ block up on Troll Ave from the restaurant.
For a party of 8 adults (2 vegetarians), I got (after looking over Unilocal photos and menu descriptions to determine things that would transfer well):
2 orders of Peynirli Pide (vegetarian)
1 orders of Behti Kebab w/​lamb (feta on the side for my pregnant sis)
2 orders of the chicken Cappadocia koftes
2 orders of the Ali Nazik the fire (veggie)
2 orders of Muhammara (veggie)
w/​extra orders of bread, rice, & salad to serve the crowd (generous amounts for a paltry $ 15 extra)
I feel like the food/​value deliciousness was there for a mere $ 110 prior to tax/​tip and they were on point with all the items neatly packaged for us to walk back home. There were even enough leftovers for each couple to take for a later meal!
I look forward to the day that I can eat in-​house, as the plating looks amazing and I believe fresh/​hot/​ambiance will of course make a big diff :)

Do you like hummus?
Do you like hummus with spinach in it?
Do you like beet hummus? What about pumpkin hummus?
I can answer «yes» to all these questions now.

4.5 stars, a half-​star deduction because the hummus and pita bread starter was served with our main entrees.
I’ve been to Istanbul twice and the food has always been exceptional anywhere we’ve gone. Turkish food has actually become one of my favorite cuisines over the past few years and I am so happy to find a very good Turkish restaurant in Seattle.
I loved seeing the «evil eye» all around the restaurant (it’s the blue and white striped circular glass ornament usually hung on the wall, there to ward off a bad curse). It makes me feel worldly that I can walk into the space and understand the meaning of the décor and it makes me miss living in the UK and being able to hop on a plane and be in Istanbul in a matter of hours.
OK, the food. Let’s get to it.
–hummus/​pita bread — was by far the best we have had in Seattle. All of the hummus in Seattle has this sour-​y taste to it and it has to do with the brand of tahini we believe. We are getting used to it but hummus in Turkey does not have the sour taste it does in establishments in Seattle.
–Ali nazik with chicken — my husband said it was good but would likely try something else next time.
–Inegöl köfte kebab — this is my favorite Turkish dish of all time but unfortunately, I had this dish on a Turkish Airlines flight one time and, to this day, stands as the best I’ve had. The lamb nuggets (for lack of better terms) lacked a bit of flavor and were overdone. I still very much enjoyed the dish, however.
Finally, as I was reviewing their menu just now, I saw that they make Turkish pizzas. I will definitely have to give one of those a go in the future as well. I love Turkish pizza!

I discovered Café Turko when I moved to Fremont a year and a half ago. I stumbled in one day walking on the street and it’s been a love affair ever since. This place is run by a local Turkish family and everything we have had on the menu is AMAZING. The standard and yam hummus is some of the best I have ever had. I have cravings for it. The prices are reasonable and the ambiance is so cozy and inviting. Twinkle lights and lamps hang from the ceiling, rugs on the walls, and the hilarious Ali Nazik fan club poster hangs with pictures of new Ali Nazik fan club members.
In a time where everyone is always talking about the newest trendy restaurant by some hot shot chef (I am very guilty of this), Café Turko is an amazing refreshing gem in Fremont that serves genuine hearty Turkish food that is out of this world and its run by a warm family that had made every experience I’ve had here great. So happy to have this place as part of my neighborhood.
Also it’s been great to see the owners succeed and recently you can see their growth at their new location down the street. It’s 72 degrees today and I just tried their new sweet outdoor patio which just builds on the happiness!

Delicious. I loved the Al Nazik Lamb was excellent, tender and flavorful and the side salad and rice that came with it were good also. The pitza and variety hummus plate were great as well. I especially loved the beet hummus and hope to enjoy it again sometime soon.

Recommendations: Turkish Lemonade (with rose flavor!)
Beyti Kebab — Incredibly flavorful. One of the best Turkish dishes I’ve ever had.
Don’t let the word «kebab» fool you. the beef not served on a skewer with a salad on the side, but in a wrap. I know that sounds very American of me, but I’m trying to spare you the embarrassment of staring at the waitress like she screwed up our order because your plate doesn’t look how you imagined it would.

After we sat down here, it took a very long time to get any attention from the staff. There were 8 employees working. Although it was pretty full, I felt that someone could have greeted us and brought us some waters. Part of the problem could have been that they were apparently preparing to move across the street two days later. But the slow service is worth commenting on.
I love this type of food because there always seem to be plenty of vegan options. I ordered the Guidry something-​another vegan dish and thought it was pretty good. Our entire table really enjoyed the rainbow hummus. I also tried part of my husband’s lamb wrap, and thought it was tasty as well.
Just a tip… the bathrooms are a bit questionable! First off, I’ve never seen a bidet in a restaurant in the US. About to get a little personal here… so my first thought is, «ew a bidet in a public restroom, how weird!» Second thought, «I’ve never used a bidet». Third, «if I use this bidet, no one will ever know». Finally, «dammit. The bidet is broken!» There are instructions on how to use it, so at least I was at last partially educated on this novelty.

Probably my favorite place in Seattle. The hosts are so warm and friendly and generous.
The food is fresh and delicious. Great vegetarian options and appetizers and amazing. I always get the sampler plate including beet/​yam hummus, Labneh with Zaatar and grape leaves. The soup is pretty good too. The grilled chicken is tender and delicious. My husband’s favorite dish is the Ali Nazik Lamb. They also have ethnic goods for sale and the décor creates a very authentic experience.

I found my place for a tasty and healthy weekend lunch in beautiful Fremont!
Since I moved here from California I have been looking for a place that serves good chicken salad. My favorite there was Chopped Salad from Sammy’s Wood Fired Pizza. Somehow in Seattle it’s hard to find good quality chains in central locations. Also other restaurants that serve salads, either use the gummy, deli quality chicken meat or they are way too overpriced (and still not that memorable).
Not the case with Café Turko: I had Anatolian Salad with substituted chicken for boiled egg. That chicken was so tasty! They were different size chunks of nicely marinated mixed chicken meat with spicy outer layer. The texture was perfect: not dry at all and a little chewy. It came on a bed of greens with green and red peppers, cucumbers, black olives and lemon dressing. When I now look at the menu I can see that the salad should also have feta cheese, sunflower seeds, mint, parsley and dill. I didn’t remember tasting any of these. It was already heavenly, but must have been even so much better with these ingredients. Hence one star less for my review.
You can also get a free Turkish coffee or tea with Unilocal check in. In my case I didn’t want such strong flavors and went for interesting anise tea instead.
The service was great too, although at times sometimes a little slow. I sat at a window table and the waitress anticipated that I wanted the blinds to go down with the heavy sun pouring through the windows. It was still a sweet spot to enjoy the solo lunch, look out the window and people watch. I even charged my dying phone with an outlet under the table!
I am coming back soon: solo or with company, this is an excellent spot!