Itsumi - Besiktas/Besiktas

I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant. The staff was attentive and the service was quick. The food quality was excellent, with a menu that was traditional and simple but executed perfectly. The more creative dishes were also expertly done. I can't wait to come back to Itsumi for another delicious meal!

It's one of the best places in Istanbul for tasting the traditional Japanese sushi. The pieces are big and full of ingredients freshly tastes!

Itsumi is an authentic Japanese restaurant that serves the best sushi in Istanbul. I recently visited both Inari and Itsumi, and while Inari was good, Itsumi stood out with its perfectly textured rice and delicious sushi rolls. The 30 piece 115₺ sushi platter was mostly great, especially the dragon and crunchy rolls. Unlike other Japanese restaurants in the city, Itsumi offers a menu that stays true to authentic Japanese flavors and does not cater to the Turkish palate with dishes like beef sushi rolls. The staff is friendly and attentive, speaking to each other in Japanese, and there is even a Japanese waitress. While the decor may not be to everyone's taste, Itsumi offers the most genuine Japanese dining experience in Istanbul. The pricing is reasonable for the quality of food served. Do not make the mistake of going to SushiCo in Kanyon, opt for Itsumi instead. Just a few minor points to note: they do not serve real wasabi and the green tea ice cream was too bitter. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise wonderful dining experience.

Have you ever walked into a restaurant in a foreign country and noticed that everyone dining there is of the same ethnicity as the cuisine? Well, in Istanbul, while Italian food can be hit or miss, Japanese food is typically a miss. However, Itsumi is an exception to this rule. When I walked into Itsumi, I was greeted by about 25 Japanese diners, and I knew right away that it was going to be a great meal. The service was excellent, the food was amazing, and the chef even sent us a complimentary dish. We ordered a bottle of hot Sake and enjoyed about 60 pieces of sushi, a soup, and an appetizer for each of us. The bill came out to 160TL each, which was a great deal considering the bottle of Sake alone was 225TL. I highly recommend trying the fried shrimp appetizer, miso soup, seaweed soup, and any of their sushi platters - you won't be disappointed. This is an easy 5-star review for me, and a special shoutout to TimeOut Istanbul for recommending this gem of a restaurant. Keep up the good work!

Very delicious but a bit old fashioned ambience Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 3