Offers vegan food with dishes like iskender and balls, Beytikebab, seitan döner wrap, mantı, ravioli style dumplings with sweet potatoes, lahmacun, Bosnian cevapi kofte, seitan stuffed grape leaves pockets with lemon sauce, burger, ravioli, lasagna and baklava, seasonal menu with Turkish rice, stuffed peppers and eggplant, olive oil cold plates, and cookies. Sunday is brunch and wild mushroom day as well as a Turkish tasting menu. Sat by reservation only. Special vegan tasting menü every Sunday. Vegan Turkish food cooking class on Tuesdays by reservation. WhatsApp 00905385032736. Relocated from Tomtom mh kumbaracı Yokuşu No 18. Open Mon 4:00pm-10:30pm, Wed-Sun 4:00pm-10:30pm.
226 Reviews
First Review by Sacha
DaveL
Points +18
Join the community! - Edit
Tasty meals incorporating homemade seitan infused with herbs. Delicious. We felt welcomed by the host, the cats, and the other guests, and we enjoyed getting to know them all. Recommended.
Read moreGuest
StefanosIoannou
Points +22
Like Home - Edit
The food was so real and authentic, delicious and in the same time homy. The owner is fabulous so so so so polite.
Read morePros: Delicious vegan meals
Guest
leishmania33
Points +46
Delighted with this little find - Edit
Tasty Seitan kebab and burgers, also had a chocolate pudding type cake and coffee, very good Turkish coffee. Hosts were friendly and helpful, lots of lovely cats around.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Great coffee , 🐈 Lots of cats
Cons: Waiting time for food
Guest
satorin
Points +68
Delicious on Food, Disappointment in Hygiene - Edit
This restaurant serves the most delicious seitan ever and i’d like to continue supporting it but my last visit tells me that there have to be changes soon. There was always the problem of hygiene before but after i’ve heard that they move to a new place i thought maybe things’d have changed. But they’ve not unfortunately. First of all this is a restaurant not a sanctuary for cats (I understand the need of helping stray cats totaly by my heart). I am also a “cats” owner and so i am not a person who involves in hygiene deeply but eating near a catlitter box with lots of unpleasant smells, sitting on a bunch of cat’s hair and seeing the cats are walking everywhere in and out made be realize that it’s not normal at all. And also it’s more spacious than the last location but it’s still full of things and makes the space unusuable for customers.
Read moreA little extra cleaning and organizing is urgent for this place because the owner deserves much more appreciation for her contribution on veganism in Turkey and such delicious foods.
Pros: Delicious seitan, Sympathic owner
Cons: No menu, no price tags, Ridiculously high prices for beverages, The most importantly HYGIENE!!!
Guest
Bodysynchron
Points +429
Difficult experience - Edit
We were really happy that there was a vegan restaurant near our hotel. But as we arrived we weren't that happy anymore: cats were strolling everywhere through the location and everything seemed a little dirty. After we saw that the cook tasted the food with the same spoon he was stirring we felt a little ill. We still ordered some seitan and a burger but we didn't really like the taste of that. The only good thing was the vegan baklava.
Read moreGuest
ParsiKade
Points +96
Not recommended - Edit
I didn’t have a good experience here. They do not have a menu and the choices are limited to wrap and kebab with faux meat.
Read moreI went there in the lunch time, though it seemed like they are not prepared for customers. There were no price tags and I found the meal overpriced compared to what you pay in the touristy parts of the city.
I ordered the wrap which was too salty and I honestly didn’t enjoy it.
The toilet was dirty. At last, there is no WiFi here.
Cons: Dirty, Unhealthy food (too salty), Unprepared
Guest
Theresalie
Points +68
An Experience beyond European style for sure - Edit
Small restaurant, with a charming unperfect atmosphere. Definitely not for allergy sufferers as cats are all around and might even humble on your desk (not intended by owner, but this is how cats are).
Read moreNo written menu available for our visit, we could choose between two main dishes and chose the mixed platter (the other would have been vegan Durum).
This turned out to be a good choice. We especially liked the seitan, which the owner is preparing entirely on her own, as she explained.
(With the cats and some enterior features most probably not up to Western European standards neither for hygiene nor for technical issues. But this is part of the atmosphere and we didn't feel it was tidy.)
Pros: Offer of a mixed platter with various small things, Entirely vegan with self-made seitan, Unique atmosphere
Cons: No written menu -> no info on dishes or on prices, Might be considered unhygienic and tidy by others
Guest
chiaki8198
Points +30
Cozy place, lovely owner - Edit
As the name suggests, this place is a community for animal lovers where they can enjoy the food and help stray animals at the same time.
Read moreI would recommend you to chat with the owner/chef Oya about what to order. She speaks Italian and English.
There is a small black board where you can check the main dishes and the prices but there is always more to eat depending on the season. Main dishes are Iskender Kebab, Doner Kebab, Burger which are made of seitan or beans and some special sauces with spices. Therefore on Fridays there is a open buffet where you can find various dishes such as lasagna, meatballs and rice filled vegetables.
There are also some vegan workshops and other activities being held either in the shop or nearby places and usually the profits are used for medical care of the stray cats and dogs in the area. You can always see some cats in the shop, they are usually recovering and looking for a home to stay. You can also buy handmade souvenirs from there, again the profits go to the medical care of the animals.
You need to go downhill from Istiklal Street to reach the shop and it can be a bother to turn back from the same road when leaving the place. Instead, keep walking down then turn right at the end of the road. You can see old and beautiful architecture in the area and reach Galata Tower in the end.
Pros: Excellent food, Friendly Staff, Vegan Activities & Workshops
Cons: Lack of ventitation, Not suitable for allergics to cats, Sometimes does not have many options to eat
Guest
Aktotik
Points +11
Cats in the kitchen - Edit
We had no chance to try food, cause cats were in the kitchen, walking on cooking surface. I understand vegans love animals, but it shouldn’t be to an extend to allow them to walk over or near food.
Read morePros: Location
Cons: I doubt sanitary
Guest
vaseleka
Points +44
Would not visit again - Edit
It is a family run small place with everything being claimed to be vegan. No menu, just what's on the board - iskender kebab, burger and some other vegan junk food. Having read the reviews I definitely had higher expectations. Went for iskender kebab, just because there were only 3-4 options and wanted to try something local. It was basically lots of spiced seitan, tomato sauce and moist bread pieces - didn't like it at all. Don't like vegan junk food actually, for me vegan food should be mostly fresh vegetables and not meat-like substitutes. This is more of a place for those transitioning and missing meat meals I guess. When we were there the elder son was preparing granola raw cakes or something like that right beside us with his hands without gloves and long hair - I know that food is typically prepared with hands, but perhaps it's better not to see it or if demonstrated, then with compliance to health and safety standards. Tbh I lost my appetite at all. There were also three cats inside, which is very typical for Istanbul and although I love animals, I do not like when they are around when I eat. In fact I do not like animals to be kept by people, this is not their natural habitat. The place is not in the center, and is on a steep road, so be prepared to climb up/down
Read moreCan't give a lower rating because of apps stupid policy
Pros: Everything is vegan
Cons: Health and safety issues/concerns, Very limited menu of 3-4 dishes, Junk food lacking veggies
Guest
Marek75
Points +35
Home made lovely chaos - Edit
Nice place, very nice people. The food is ok, it’s fresh and home made. I don’t think I would go a second time.
Read morePros: Vegan, very nice people.
Guest
ZoëLeclercq
Points +40
Love - Edit
Good food, nice people, and cute cats.
Read morePros: 100% vegan
Cons: Pas cher
Guest
ACCVeg
Points +1352
Cannot recommend - Edit
This is a tough review for me to write, as I am predisposed to be pretty enthusiastic about any vegan eating establishment and tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, my visit to this place makes me want to give warning to anyone planning a visit there so they know what they are in for. First off, when we arrived, one of the staff members was doing some food prep at one of the guest tables and seemed confused as to why we were there (it was about 6PM on a Saturday). We explained that we would like a table, and asked to have the menu, at which point we were shown a black board with three menu options, two of which were kabob. Ok, so a limited menu, we could deal with that, but there was an overriding sense of "what are you doing here?". Maybe it was because we were American? Not sure, but there was no friendliness, no interest in the fact that we had managed to seek out a vegan place in out this out-of-the-way corner of Istanbul. So the staff person went back in the kitchen and yukked it up with the other staff person for a looonnnggg time, and eventually came out with two plates of lukewarm kabob and room temperature fries. It.was.bad. We ordered two kabab and two cups of tea, tea never showed up. A visit to the bathroom was a disaster, as the smell of urine (human? cat? there were lots of cats running around) and the general lack of hygienic conditions made me almost lose my lunch. Just such a bad experience, I can't recommend. I wish I'd thought to ask further about the limited menu options as it is out of sync with their description, which makes it sound as if a plethora of options are available.
Read moreCons: Food was terrible, Unfriendly staff, Bathroom not clean
Guest
HannaTillberg
Points +62
Homemade and delicious! - Edit
Cosy little place run by a sweet lady. Very tasty kebab followed by vegan baklava. I would really recommend going here!
Read moreGuest
JavidBakhtiar
Points +38
Delicious vegan foods - Edit
very kind owner
Read morefunny cats :)
and very very Delicious vegan foods
try turkish coffee with baklava
Pros: Delicious, near taksim, kind owner
Guest
Jonathon67
Points +199
Friday night feast! - Edit
The vegan buffet on Friday was amazing! There was a good selection of food including soup, vine leaves, roasted cauliflower, burek and other assortments. All was healthy and delicious. The hosts are super sweet and friendly. Will 100% be back!
Read morePros: All vegan , Reasonably priced , Friendly hosts in nice area
Guest
clark
Points +293
best food, friendly owner - Edit
First off, be aware that if you come here by tram, it's a good 5-10 minute walk uphill to get here. My legs ached from the climb but it's worth it!
Read moreCommunity Kitchen was the best food I had while I was in Istanbul. The owner speaks excellent English and, as I couldn't eat seitan, made a special aubergine and potato meal just for me. It was a rather large meal for one person but oh so good! Also worth mentioning is the very friendly cat who watches over the premises. I really enjoyed my time here and only wish I could have eaten here more than just once.
Pros: delicious food, friendly owner, english spoken
Cons: a bit far
Guest
Vegantraveljunkie
Points +939
Found my vegan manna in Istanbul! - Edit
I discovered that Community Kitchen offered all you can eat buffet Fridays using my Happy Cow app so headed over the Bosporus to check it out. What a feast! Can’t imagine how giddy I was to have an array of all vegan dishes at an buffet! I tried it all and it was all super tasty and delicious! The owner was so friendly and kept bringing out more dishes that were being cooked! Yes as mentioned on Happy Cow, she has three cats which are so friendly and adorable and spayed and neutered!😊👍 Piece de resistance was the dessert- baklava and brownies which were yummy plus never thought could ever enjoy the former! Finished off with a chilled hibiscus tea. Chilled, relaxed atmosphere with alike minded people can chat with there. I even got a little doggy bag of sweets to take away!😊All round a must try amazing vegan cafe in Istanbul!
Read morePros: Inexpensive, Offer vegan desserts, Friday buffet is a great option to try an array
Guest
susuysd
Points +50
Wonderfull food - Edit
We looked for vegan food in Istanbul and were happy to find this place so close to our hotel.
Read moreThey had delishious vegan ayran (turkish yoghurt drink), vegan chocolate brownie which was fantastic.
Also the vegan lahmacun was good.
Cute cats playing in and in front of the cafe!
Thanks for the good food!
Pros: good food, cute cats, good service
Cons: none
Guest
skalsaqer
Points +531
Amazing food - Edit
After a long trip from Eskişehir, I was fasting, tired, and VERY hungry. We searched on happy cow for a good vegan place which was also open since its already late at night. Fortunately, we found this place! The woman there was very friendly and there were adorable cats sleeping. The place was all designed with vegan art. We ordered vegan burgers and I’m glad We did!! The burger was the tastiest vegan burger I’ve ever tried. It also came with tasty potatoes on the side. We finished up eating cupcakes and baklava. The cupcakes tasted heavenly. I recommend this place very much!
Read morePros: Friendly lady, Tasty food, Nice atmosphere
Cons: None
Guest
JessIndeedy
Points +85
If you love cats and vegan food, this will be your dream restaurant - Edit
This restaurant makes vegan renditions of Turkish dishes, and the food was delicious and plentiful. They also serve vegan baklava! The owner was super friendly and she had a little kid assistant who was polite and adorable. There were two cats roaming the place, which will be a delight to some - but not for me as I’m so allergic to them.
Read morePros: Vegan Iskender , Friendly service, Quiet, off-the-beaten-track location
Cons: I’m allergic to cats, and there were two!, Could use some music for atmosphere
Guest
Catri
Points +31
Friendly, cozy, delicious - Edit
I had a vegan döner salad, which was delicious! It had seitan and a great smokey barbecue sauce. The brownie muffin was awesome too. Very friendly staff (including the cats). A place to come back to!
Read moreGuest
BeniKöhler
Points +22
Full of love - Edit
Very warm and loving welcoming. This is how we change the world.
Read morePros: Wonderful owner 😻🙏🏻, Tasty vegan kebab (seitan), Vegan desserts were incredibly good
Cons: Not all items on menu were available
Guest
VersaceSim
Points +419
One of the best buffets I’ve ever had! - Edit
The buffet was absolutely amazing! The brownies she makes omg! One of the best I have ever had! And the hibiscus cold tea on a hot summer night is one the best drinks u can have!
Read morePros: Very affordable, Great selection, Mouth watering!
Guest
SashaGabrielaTanase
Points +40
Traditional Turkish dishes made vegan - Edit
The owner is a very very adorable person and the food is delicious. We ate a vegan kebab made out of seitan and it was the best seitan I have eaten so far! If you pass by say hi to Shirin the most talkative cat
Read morePros: Good prices, Nice atmosphere, Tasty food
Guest
Tip-Top
Points +16
Gorgeous Turkish vegan food - Edit
My fave vegan eaterie ever!
Read morePros: fresh food and cosy atmosphere
Guest
planb
Points +50
Friendly and cosy restaurant - Edit
Had a seitan döner for 32 Tl which was nice. Water is included. Friendly atmosphere an street cat friendly x) would go there again
Read moreGuest
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