# Culinary Backstreets — user reviews > 31 indexed App Store user reviews of Culinary Backstreets by Culinary Backstreets, rated 2.60/5 from 12 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/culinary-backstreets/id534876766/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/culinary-backstreets/id534876766.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 7 ## Newest reviews (10 of 31) ### 4/5 — Seems like a good start *2012-12-10, version 1.0* Was hoping for more photos of actual food on offer at each place. But otherwise helpful. ### 5/5 — Business traveler *2012-09-26, version 1.0* Authentic, fascinating places and delicious food. Maps works great. It makes it quick and easy to find the best places to eat in Istanbul. This is the guide you need for the best dining experience in Istanbul. I can't wait for more Culinary Backstreets city apps. ### 5/5 — Best app for travelers and locals! *2012-09-20, version 1.0* After following Istanbul Eats for many years- I'm thrilled with the latest app release. It's the perfect guide around the backstreets of Turkish cuisine. It points me to places I would never think of going and thus I have culinary experiences I would have never imagined. As someone who's lived in Istanbul for over three years I find the Nearby function to be incredibly helpful when having an impromptu dining event with a friend. Just open the app and it will tell you what's nearby and delicious! As a traveler I'm sure the offline capabilities will help with heavy roaming fees and introduce many to the delights of Turkish food. All in all this is a fantastic app, one I recommend to friends near and far. ### 5/5 — Best travel app we've found *2012-09-15, version 1.0* My wife and I just got back from our honeymoon in the Greek isles and spent three days in Istanbul. We loved everywhere we went, but I think we got the best experience out of Istanbul, and I really think that is because of the culinary experience. In fact, we organized our second and third days around the app and restaurants we wanted to check out. We got to see parts of the city we never would have. By far the bed part, in terms of functionality is the GPS that works offline. We downloaded a few travel apps like this on our trip and most didn't work that well. This app, on the other hand, was like having wifi with us wherever we went. I hope they create this app for more places because it's that good. ### 5/5 — Extraordinary App *2012-09-11, version 1.0* Thrilled with this app, as a traveler with a challenged sense of direction the GPS feature (with NO roaming) is a slam dunk. Looking forward to using on upcoming visit to Istanbul. As a follower of Istanbul eats blog & a former participant in the walking tour, I can vouch for the fact that this app will not disappoint. ### 5/5 — Most excellent app *2012-09-10, version 1.0* Can't imagine going to Istanbul without the benefit of this app. Look foreword to using it on my next trip. ### 5/5 — Plan your culinary trip *2012-09-06, version 1.0* One of the joys and special gifts of travel is eating new foods and sharing this experience with locals. This app allows you to research eateries which might never be discovered otherwise. It is possible to find places by neighborhood and bookmark restaurants to match your schedule before you leave home. Once you are on site, the GPS feature kicks in (great if you don't take time to research before your trip, or if you change you mind about the type of food you want). Each restaurant is listed by neighborhood and you can view a map, check phone #, and hours. Reviews are well written in English, and if you have EVER downloaded an app and had a problem or a question, you will be amazed at the team which runs this app. I had a very thorough email answer within hours, and an offer to answer further questions. How unusual and great is that!!? My app is for Istanbul, but there are other cities offered. If you are an adventurous diner and want more than the usual guidebook recommendations, you just must purchase this app. Yes, it does cost a bit more than some apps, but you get recommendations on places I have never found on any other site, and tools which make this a bargain. Sharing the food of a different culture is one of the special treasures of travel - I love this app and it works. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2012-09-04, version 1.0* Excellent and very useful app! The blurbs are great and super interesting, and the maps are totally handy for getting around. It's a great guide! ### 5/5 — Great tool for travelers *2012-09-04, version 1.0* Great app. Contents work offline too. Perfect for visitors to Istanbul. ### 5/5 — T *2012-09-03, version 1.0* Simply the best and only guide to the complex and varied culinary world of the Istanbul. Turkish food is not famous for variety, but Istanbul Eats will lead you to the widest, wildest and most authentic dining experiences in the metropolis. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not helpful, even in Istanbul *2024-02-27, version 2.3.1* Weird design for an app. I can’t look up a restaurant by food item or location or even meal offering. The location part of the app doesn’t link to any map app so it’s hard to find the restaurants. Not worth the price and I won’t recommend. ### 1/5 — Broken app *2022-02-20, version 2.3.1* App repeatedly fails to load Mexico City map and still charged me for the download. Needs serious work. ### 1/5 — When are updates coming? *2018-05-26, version 2.3.1* Been a long time waiting for updates and new cities ### 1/5 — Huh *2017-07-24, version 2.3.1* Lousy. Not well organized. Not worth $4 ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2016-07-14, version 2.3* I paid to download the Barcelona app and it doesn't work - what a waste of money didn't get to use it ### 1/5 — The nearby feature doesn't work at all *2013-09-21, version 1.21* The nearby feature doesn't work at all. It very difficult to find places around you . You have to go through each review to search for a place which is near you from the address . It's difficult to do for tourists . The reviews are available online in any case . So it's a waste of 5 dollars without the location features . ### 2/5 — Outdated *2019-08-02* The reviews would be excellent, if even half of the restaurants reviewed still existed. Was great for Istanbul, absolutely awful for Shanghai. ### 2/5 — App crashes *2016-04-08, version 2.2.1* Overall this was a good app but after the major overhaul it's a bit difficult to maneuver in and now it crashes when you attempt to launch it. ### 2/5 — Skip it *2013-04-16, version 1.0* Didn't work for me at all! ### 3/5 — A good start *2016-06-27, version 2.3* I love the website. That being said, the Mexico City portion of the app is light. It needs a lot more work. I realize that Mexico City is huge, so for that I will give you a grace period. Once the content improves, I will rate/review again. Until then I will not be suggesting your app to my traveling friends. If you improve the app to be as good as your website, it will be a five star for sure. Fingers crossed! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Way better than trip advisor etc. *2019-03-28, version 2.3.1* Best restaurants I went to in Istanbul were found in this app. The highly reviewed spots that you’d find on other apps were not often good, or were too crowded. Love this app. Will try for other cities from now on. ### 5/5 — Best istanbul app out there *2016-06-01* Update -- rio one has a section dedicated to Olympic area! Will be great in August! So psyched! Update --- love the Barcelona even more than the istanbul one! Offline maps with gps tracker (without roaming) is worth the money alone. Not to mention the excellent content - you won't be sorry that you purchased this one- it's our go to guide in istanbul! Update--- new map interface works even better! Love macs maps! ### 5/5 — I love culinary backstreets *2016-04-12, version 2.2.1* I read the weekly emails, have used the EatItinerary service and the Athens, Istanbul and Barcelona apps. I have found the information to be spot-on. I appreciate the focus on 'real' food representative of the place and culture. My only criticism is that I'd like to see some general price rating system so you have an idea if you are likely to spend 10 or 40 euro on a meal. Lots of the places covered either don't have websites or don't list prices. Overall a fantastic culinary resource. ### 5/5 — Don't leave home without it! *2016-03-25, version 2.2* A fantastic app for navigating the food scene in Istanbul and Barcelona. Every recommendation is great. ### 5/5 — The Yelp of Istanbul *2013-10-10, version 1.21* Only the best restaurants in Istanbul all mapped out for your convenience. Culinary Backstreets is definitely the best app for food-loving foreigners in Istanbul! ### 5/5 — Very helpful *2013-09-24* Based on the Culinary Backstreets blog this app has a lot of great recommendations to experience authentic food in Istanbul. Furthermore the 'Nearby' function and search by area are very helpful when wandering around. Certainly enriched our trip! ### 5/5 — Key to the (culinary) city! *2013-07-01, version 1.2* We used this app and the book by the same group on our recent trip to Istanbul. It was absolutely fabulous - never a bad choice. Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Great! Great! *2013-03-01, version 1.0* If you like food, if you are going to Istanbul, buy this app. You will not be disappointed. I impressed all my friends with their suggestions. More importantly, we had a lot of fun and we learned a ton. Can't recommend this enough. Loved that it worked offline! ### 5/5 — Saveur awarded bloggers *2012-10-07, version 1.0* Good & Trustworthy & Delicious... ### 5/5 — Mandatory for foodies in Istanbul! *2012-09-29, version 1.0* Better than the book! Amazing that whenever and wherever I get hungry in Istanbul, I can punch up this app's gps and highlight the closest, often hidden delicious eateries in the neighborhood. This is hands down the best guide to food in Istanbul. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-07.*