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One evening during our New York trip, we headed to Turkish Cuisine at 631, 9th Avenue, tucked into the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan, for a proper family dinner. We'd heard great things, and it did not disappoint, it turned out to be one of the most delightful meals of our whole trip.
Turkish Cuisine has been serving up authentic Turkish food in the heart of Manhattan for nearly three decades, having first opened its doors back in 1995. Everything on the menu is built on traditional family recipes and time-honoured cooking techniques, and it's a proud women-owned business dedicated to quality ingredients and warm hospitality. Walking in, you can feel that history in the decor: the walls are covered in framed black and white photographs and rows of small painted figurines tucked into arched wall niches, giving the whole place a warm, almost storybook feel, as though you've been transported straight into a corner of an Istanbul bazaar.
There's also a lovely outdoor garden area at the back of the restaurant, strung with fairy lights and dressed in cheerful gingham tablecloths, perfect for a warmer evening.
We started with a beautiful bowl of homemade hummus, served with warm pitta bread, and it was the perfect way to kick things off, smooth, well-seasoned and clearly made properly rather than bought in. Our son had a fresh cranberry juice, our daughter stuck with water, and my wife and I both went for Coke Zero. Simple drinks, but it set us up nicely for what was to come.
Both of our children went for the chicken shish, beautifully seasoned and served alongside crispy, well-seasoned fries, white rice and a lovely fresh salad.
I had the falafel platter, and it might have been one of the best falafels I've had outside of the Middle East itself. The chickpea patties were so soft and moist in the middle with a lovely crisp exterior, served with hummus, a fresh green salad and a beautifully smooth homemade tahini sauce.
My wife went for the Adana kebab, a spiced minced meat kebab, served with salad, rice and chips. It was full of flavour, properly spiced without being overpowering, and a real highlight of the meal.
The salads across the table deserve a special mention too. They came with a homemade pomegranate sauce that added a lovely tangy sweetness against all the savoury, grilled flavours on the plate, a proper authentic touch that pulled the whole meal together.
To finish, we shared a Turkish milk custard, sprinkled with a dusting of cocoa and served with a little fresh strawberry, alongside hot Turkish tea. It was silky, lightly sweet and the perfect way to end the meal without feeling too heavy.
Dinner at Turkish Cuisine was an absolute delight from start to finish. The food across every single dish was fresh, flavourful and clearly made with real care, from the homemade hummus and tahini right through to that gorgeous milk custard at the end. Every plate that came to the table felt thoughtfully put together, and there wasn't a single dish between the four of us that disappointed.
What really elevated the whole evening, though, was the service. The staff were attentive without ever hovering, checking in at just the right moments and making sure the kids were just as looked after as the adults. The owner came over to our table personally, and he was so welcoming, engaging and genuinely friendly, taking the time to chat with us about the food and the restaurant's history rather than just doing a quick check-in. It's the sort of warmth that can't be faked, and it made the whole meal feel less like a transaction and more like being looked after by family.
Add in the warm, characterful decor, that lovely outdoor garden option, and a genuine sense of history behind the restaurant, and it's easy to see why it's remained a favourite in Hell's Kitchen for so many years. The combination of brilliant food and that level of hospitality is a rare thing to find together, and it's exactly what makes a restaurant memorable rather than just good.
If you're in New York and fancy an authentic Turkish meal with the whole family, in a place that treats you like more than just another table, Turkish Cuisine is well worth seeking out.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
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