Galata Mediterranean Grill

“So authentic and incredibly delicious.”

So authentic and incredibly delicious. Absolutely loved this place, planning to come back!

Fernando Bernardo

Jan 2026

“We had an amazing experience.”

We had an amazing experience! We tried the Adana kebab, lamb chops, beef shish , and chicken wings, kelle paça soup, and the appetizer plate and after all that we got rice-pudding as a dessert.Everything was absolutely delicious and full of authentic flavor. The food tasted homemade and the portions were generous. Warm atmosphere and great hospitality made the experience even better. Definitely a place we’ll come back to again and again!

Eymen Erol

Jan 2026

“I’m so glad we stumbled upon this newly opened Turkish restaurant.”

I’m so glad we stumbled upon this newly opened Turkish restaurant! The food was plentiful, flavourful and made with love. The owner has so much pride in serving his customers and the quality of ingredients were fresh! We will 110% be coming back!!

Alexandra Calderone

Jan 2026

“I have been here several times over the past two weeks, and each time I was warmly welcomed and felt very comfortable.”

I have been here several times over the past two weeks, and each time I was warmly welcomed and felt very comfortable. One of the restaurant managers, Mr. Emin, was especially kind and understanding toward us. The food was also great. The mantı was both delicious and very filling. The part I liked the most was the desserts, especially the künefe. I absolutely fell in love with it. The sweetness and the syrup were perfectly balanced. Our server, Ms. Mine, was very polite and kind. She recommended dishes we would enjoy and even offered us complimentary treats. I highly recommend this place to everyone.

Enes

Jan 2026

“We had the mixed app platter & the Turkish manti & it blew away my expectations.”

We had the mixed app platter & the Turkish manti & it blew away my expectations. So excited to have found this gem around the corner from me. Will definitely be back!!! The rice pudding was also to die for. Must visit!

Maddie Collen

Jan 2026

“This place just opened and already feels like a standout.”

This place just opened and already feels like a standout. We came for dinner on a Wednesday and ordered the Mixed Grill for Two, which was incredibly generous and packed with variety. The platter includes Adana kebab, chicken shish, beef shish, Turkish meatballs, and doner, and every single bite was flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked. Nothing dry, nothing heavy, just well seasoned, high quality meats that felt both indulgent and balanced. It was extremely filling in the best way. We started with the hummus, which was fresh, light, and full of flavor. You can actually see it on the right side of the Mixed Grill plate in the photo, but barely, because we ate it so quickly. The table bread deserves special mention too. Light, crispy, warm, and clearly fresh. Absolutely incredible. They are currently BYOB, but the owner shared they’ll be getting their liquor license soon. I had the hot tea, which was warming, fragrant, and the perfect complement to a big dinner. For dessert, we tried the rice pudding, which I normally don’t like. This one completely changed my mind. It was light, creamy, gently vanilla flavored, and topped with hazelnuts. The perfect ending after a lot of food without feeling heavy. The space is very spacious and welcoming, with a warm atmosphere and chill, relaxing music. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the owner came over to chat with us and was so outgoing and passionate about the restaurant. You can really feel the care behind this place. Honestly, this is one of my favorite Mediterranean meals in Chicago, and easily the best Mediterranean food I’ve had in the area. Excited to see what this place becomes as they move toward their grand opening. We’ll absolutely be back 🤌

Justin Weinzierl

Jan 2026

“We ate at Galata and honestly… where do I even start.”

We ate at Galata and honestly… where do I even start. We began with kelle paca soup and lahmacun. The lahmacuns were incredibly thin, perfectly crispy, and surprisingly filling. The price was unbelievably reasonable — easily the most delicious and best-priced lahmacun we’ve had so far. Since everything was so good, we wanted to try more and ordered the mixed grill kebab. The doner was sliced very thin, juicy, and full of flavor, and the bulgur was insanely good. My personal favorite on the plate was the grilled vegetable salad. I truly missed that taste and it made me so happy to eat it again. The carrot tarator and the delicious pickles were such a great start to the meal. Honestly, I could keep talking about the food forever. And the rice pudding… the texture and sweetness were just perfect. We tried a little bit of everything, didn’t even eat that much, yet we were completely full and still left with multiple to-go boxes. What can I say — the service and hospitality speak for themselves. Huge thanks to our server Mine and to the restaurant owners for their kindness, great service, and genuine customer care. We will 100% be back.

Sümeyye Mayuk

Jan 2026

“Hidden gem on Clark Street near Wrigley Field.”

Hidden gem on Clark Street near Wrigley Field. This cozy spot has an authentic Turkish Mediterranean vibe with freshly grilled, juicy kebabs and homemade meze. The food quality was outstanding and everything was perfectly seasoned. The complimentary rice pudding (sutlac) was absolutely delicious and such a nice surprise. Warm hospitality, friendly staff, and a truly welcoming atmosphere. If you’re looking for authentic Mediterranean food near Wrigley Field, this place is a must try. Definitely worth the stop, even in winter

İSMAİL BOZTAŞ

Jan 2026

“A wonderful new Turkish spot in the heart of Lakeview with very warm hospitality.”

A wonderful new Turkish spot in the heart of Lakeview with very warm hospitality. Everything we tried was a hit: the Kelle Paça soup was rich and comforting with tenderly cooked lamb, the cheese sucuk pide was rich and cheesy, the manti featured savory little dumplings with beef and dill, and the lamb shish was super tender and well seasoned. A very lovely addition to the neighborhood and we will definitely plan for a return soon!

Bill

Jan 2026

“That was delicious adana kebab , i love it highly recommended.”

That was delicious adana kebab , i love it highly recommended. Dont forget to drink ayran !!!

Emin Dinc

Jan 2026

“I’m a huge fan of Turkish cuisine, and I’m pretty sure I’ve found the best Turkish restaurant in Chicago!”

Guzal Iminova

Jan 2026

“I had really good dinner with my friends.”

I had really good dinner with my friends. We ordered mixed grilled. Every dish was amazing. I really recommend this place to everyone. I got dessert called sütlaç and it was amazing. Very tasty food over here

Soner Basaran

Jan 2026