Why Turkish kebab is different
Say “kebab” in Pattaya and most people picture a pita stuffed with shaved meat from a rotating cone. That is one kind of kebab. In Türkiye, kebab means a whole family of grilled meat dishes, each with its own city, spice and cut.
What they share is fire. A real Turkish kebab is cooked over charcoal on an ocakbaşı grill, turned by hand and served straight away. Charcoal burns hotter than gas, so the outside chars while the inside stays juicy, and the smoke becomes part of the flavour.
The five Turkish kebabs worth knowing
If you only learn five names before you order, make it these:
- Adana kebab: hand-minced meat with red pepper, pressed onto a wide iron skewer. Spicy, smoky and the most famous kebab in Türkiye. ฿350 at Istanbul Restaurant.
- İskender kebab: thin slices of döner over bread, topped with tomato sauce, sizzling butter and yoghurt. The classic from Bursa. ฿450.
- Shish kebab (şiş): cubes of marinated lamb or chicken on skewers. Chicken shish (฿280) is the mildest choice for kids and first-timers.
- Beyti kebab: grilled minced meat rolled in flatbread, sliced and finished with yoghurt. ฿360.
- Dürüm: any kebab wrapped in thin lavash bread, perfect to take away. From ฿150.
What to order at Istanbul Restaurant Pattaya
First visit? Order one Adana and one chicken shish to share, with a Turkish shepherd’s salad and a cold ayran. You will taste the spicy and the mild side of the grill.
Can’t decide? The Istanbul Mixed Grill (฿850) puts lamb shish, Adana, köfte, chicken shish and wings on one plate. Coming as a group of five or six? The Family Tray (tepsi kebabı, ฿4,500) is the best value on the menu.
Want something saucy instead of grilled? Try İskender, or Hünkar Beğendi: tender beef on smoky eggplant purée, a palace dish from Ottoman Istanbul.
How to spot a good kebab restaurant in Pattaya
Wherever you eat, a few signs tell you the kebab is the real thing:
- You can see or smell a charcoal grill, not just a vertical cone.
- The menu names regional kebabs (Adana, Beyti, İskender), not just “chicken kebab” and “beef kebab”.
- Kebabs come with proper sides: bulgur or rice, grilled pepper and tomato, onion salad with sumac.
- Staff can tell you which kebab is spicy and which is mild.
Where to find us
Istanbul Restaurant is at 27/25 South Pattaya Road, a short ride from Walking Street, Central Pattaya and Jomtien. We are open every day from 11am to 1am, so a late-night kebab is always an option. Takeaway and Grab delivery are available, and we accept cash and Thai QR.
เคบับตุรกี พัทยา
เคบับตุรกีแท้ย่างบนเตาถ่าน อาดาน่า เคบับ 350 บาท อิสเคนเดอร์ 450 บาท ไก่เสียบไม้ 280 บาท ดูรุมห่อแป้งเริ่ม 150 บาท ที่ร้านอิสตันบูล เรสเตอรองต์ ถนนพัทยาใต้ เปิดทุกวัน 11:00–01:00 น.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Turkish kebab to try first?
Adana kebab if you like some spice, chicken shish if you prefer mild. Both are charcoal grilled and cost ฿350 and ฿280 at Istanbul Restaurant Pattaya.
Where can I eat Turkish kebab in Pattaya?
Istanbul Restaurant on South Pattaya Road grills every kebab to order over charcoal and is open daily until 1am.
How much does a kebab cost in Pattaya?
At Istanbul Restaurant, dürüm wraps start from ฿150, plated kebabs from ฿280, the Mixed Grill is ฿850 and the Family Tray for 5–6 people is ฿4,500.
Is Turkish kebab spicy?
Only some. Adana is spicy; shish, Beyti, İskender and köfte are mild. Ask for acılı ezme (spicy tomato dip) if you want extra heat.