Best Turkish Food in Fountain Valley: What to Order at Istanbul Grill

True Turkish cooking has its own character: kebabs grilled over charcoal on wide flat skewers, cool yogurt-based mezze, slow-cooked stews and syrup-soaked pistachio baklava. If you have never ordered Turkish food before, the menu can look like a list of unfamiliar words. This guide translates it, dish by dish, with real prices from the Istanbul Grill menu, so you know exactly what to order and what it will cost.

Istanbul Grill California has been serving Orange County from the corner of Newhope St and Talbert Ave for years. It was named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. in 2015 and 2016, received a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly, and holds a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,900 Google reviews.

The Top 10 Turkish Dishes to Try in Fountain Valley

Short on time? These ten dishes give you the best overview of Turkish cuisine in a single visit. Prices are from the current dinner menu.

What Makes Turkish Food Different?

Turkish food shares ingredients with Greek, Lebanese and Persian cooking, but a few things set it apart:

• The grill comes first. Kebabs are cooked over high heat so the outside chars while the inside stays juicy. Ground-meat kebabs like Adana are pressed by hand onto wide, flat skewers that hold the meat in place.
• Ground vs. cubed. Turkish menus split kebabs into ground meat (Adana, kofte, doner) and whole cubes (shish, ribeye). Knowing this one rule makes the whole menu easy to read.
• Yogurt everywhere. Yogurt shows up as a sauce, as a thick dip (labne), as a topping on Iskender and even as a drink (ayran).
• Mezze culture. A Turkish meal usually starts with a spread of small cold dishes shared by the whole table.
• Rice pilaf with orzo. Plates come with buttery rice pilaf, grilled vegetables and warm pita instead of fries.

Kebab Cheat Sheet: Which One Should You Order?

Every kebab at Istanbul Grill is served with rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables. Use this table to pick the one that matches your taste.

Can’t decide? The Kebab Combination ($26.99) lets you pick any two half portions. For a table of four, the Istanbul Kebab platter ($89.99) brings half portions of seven kebabs with rice pilaf, grilled peppers and tomatoes, red cabbage and pita.

Adana kebab: the one to try first

Adana is named after a city in southern Turkey famous for its kebabs. The meat is ground, seasoned and pressed onto a wide skewer, then grilled until the edges caramelize. Istanbul Grill makes it two ways: lamb for the traditional rich flavor and chicken with crushed red pepper for a lighter option.

Doner vs. Iskender

Doner is the Turkish ancestor of the gyro: seasoned lamb and beef stacked on a vertical rotisserie and carved into thin slices. Iskender takes those same slices, lays them over toasted bread and finishes them with tomato sauce and yogurt. If you already love doner, Iskender is the natural next step.

Mezze: Turkish Appetizers to Share

Mezze are small plates meant for the middle of the table and scooped up with warm pita. Order two or three, or get the Cold Appetizer Sampler ($30.99), which includes all five cold mezze and serves 3–5 people.

Tip: Ezme is the one most people haven’t tried. It’s a spicy, chunky tomato-and-walnut relish that goes perfectly with grilled meat.

Soups, Salads and House Stews

Turkish home cooking is more than kebabs. A bowl of red lentil soup ($8.99) is how many Turkish meals begin. The Shepherd Salad ($11.99) of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers with sumac and lemon is the classic side for grilled meat. For something heartier, the house specialties include Creamy Chicken Sauté ($22.99), Lamb Sauté ($24.99), Shepherd Casserole ($25.99) and Okra Stew with Lamb ($23.99), all served with rice pilaf.

Vegetarian Turkish Food in Fountain Valley

Turkish cuisine is naturally friendly to vegetarians thanks to its many vegetable, legume and olive-oil dishes. Here are the meat-free choices on the menu:

Turkish Desserts and Drinks

Save room. Baklava ($9.99) is thin phyllo layered with crushed pistachios and soaked in syrup, flaky on top and sticky underneath. If you prefer something lighter, try Sütlaç ($9.99), a house-made rice pudding, or Keşkül ($9.99), a silky almond pudding topped with almonds.

To drink, order ayran ($3.99), a chilled, lightly salted yogurt drink that is Turkey’s classic pairing for kebabs. It cools the palate after anything spicy.

How to Build a Turkish Feast in 4 Steps

How Much Does Turkish Food Cost in Fountain Valley?

Here is what a typical visit costs, using current menu prices (before tax and tip):

Looking for the best value? The weekday lunch special is the easiest way to try a full Turkish plate for under $20. Families can also check the kids menu.

Planning Your Visit

Because the kitchen stays open until 1 AM, you can also stop by Istanbul Grill for a full grilled dinner late at night (see our late-night food guide). More details on parking, reservations and dietary options are on our FAQ page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the best Turkish food in Fountain Valley?

Istanbul Grill California at 18010 Newhope St Ste D serves authentic Turkish and Mediterranean food, including charcoal-grilled Adana, shish, doner and Iskender kebabs, mezze and baklava. It was named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. in 2015 and 2016.

What is the difference between Adana and shish kebab?

Adana kebab is made from seasoned ground meat pressed onto a wide flat skewer, while shish kebab is made from whole cubes of marinated meat. Adana is richer and more seasoned; shish is more about the texture of the meat itself.

What is Iskender kebab?

Iskender kebab is sliced doner meat served over toasted bread with tomato sauce and yogurt. At Istanbul Grill it costs $25.99 and comes with plain yogurt, a grilled pepper, a grilled tomato and pita bread.

What should I order at a Turkish restaurant for the first time?

Start with hummus or the cold mezze sampler, then order a doner or Adana kebab, which come with rice pilaf and grilled vegetables. Finish with pistachio baklava and try ayran, a salted yogurt drink.

Is there vegetarian Turkish food in Fountain Valley?

Yes. Istanbul Grill offers a falafel plate, okra stew (bamya), hummus, babaganoush, ezme, dolmas, cheese rolls and several salads.

How late is Istanbul Grill California open?

Istanbul Grill California is open every day from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM, so you can enjoy Turkish food for lunch, dinner or a late-night meal.