Restaurants
- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Koçak Baklava at Kocak Baklava
Leaving Izmir and onwards to Gaziantep, which is the Turkish word for ‘pistachio’. This fast-paced and epicurean city has around 180 pastry shops producing the world's best baklava, supplying 90 percent of the baklava consumed in Turkey. It just so happens to be one of our favorite desserts too, so we’re definitely in the right place.
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A local... More
Leaving Izmir and onwards to Gaziantep, which is the Turkish word for ‘pistachio’. This fast-paced and epicurean city has around 180 pastry shops producing the world's best baklava, supplying 90 percent of the baklava consumed in Turkey. It just so happens to be one of our favorite desserts too, so we’re definitely in the right place.
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A local favorite that serves up some of the best baklava is Koçak Baklava. Many people swear by it over other similar places in the city. The shop produces about 1,000 pounds of 13 types of baklava daily with a team of 100 people. Everything is controlled meticulously from start to finish in every stage by the brothers İbrahim and Çoşkun Koçak.
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The baklava at Kocak are largely known for their distinctly buttery taste. We ordered several in different shapes, sizes, and varieties to try. As we took our first bite, the sensation was immediately fragrant from the pistachios, then buttery, then crunchy, and finally sweet. So incredible! It’ll be hard to have baklava anywhere else outside of Gaziantep after this experience.
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Kocak Baklava, Gaziantep (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Öz Şanlı Urfa ciğercisi at Öz şanlı Urfa ciğercisiın Vahap usta
Kebab shop at Öz Şanlı Urfa ciğercisi in Izmir. All locals, friendly hospitality, delicious meats and salad, and open since 1987 - the ingredients to a delicious meal.
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Oz Sanli Urfa Cigercisi, Izmir (Sept 2019)
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Kebab shop at Öz Şanlı Urfa ciğercisi in Izmir. All locals, friendly hospitality, delicious meats and salad, and open since 1987 - the ingredients to a delicious meal.
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Oz Sanli Urfa Cigercisi, Izmir (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at OD URLA at OD Urla
If there’s one restaurant in Turkey worth traveling for, it’s OD URLA, located in a patch of land just outside of Izmir in the town of Urla. You arrive on a dirt path and out of nowhere, a beautiful restaurant appears under a grove of olive trees. OD Urla opened its doors about a year ago on the land of Chef Osman Sezener’s family olive grove... More
If there’s one restaurant in Turkey worth traveling for, it’s OD URLA, located in a patch of land just outside of Izmir in the town of Urla. You arrive on a dirt path and out of nowhere, a beautiful restaurant appears under a grove of olive trees. OD Urla opened its doors about a year ago on the land of Chef Osman Sezener’s family olive grove and summer house. His father Günter Sezener was responsible for the construction and his wife Ecem Sezener took over the interior design and decoration.
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Chef Osman Sezener is considered to be one of the most talented and creative chefs of Izmir (and perhaps all of Turkey), which really showed in our tasting menu. The kitchen team aims to use only fresh and seasonal products from the local Aegean Region (the olive oil is literally squeezed from the garden) and cook them with wood fire. The quality of ingredients paired with great execution and laid-back atmosphere makes for an unforgettable meal. It’s safe to say that Turkey has been treating us very well so far!
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OD Urla, Izmir (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at KUYUM PİDE Salonu at Meşhur Kuyum Pide Salonu
In the heart of Izmir lies the historic Kemeraltı, one of the oldest bazaars in Turkey. We were recommended by one of the locals to stop by KUYUM PİDE Salonu, a famous hole-in-the-wall inside the maze-like market that opened its doors in 1968. It's our first time having proper Pide, which is similar to pizza but with Turkish flair and originated back... More
In the heart of Izmir lies the historic Kemeraltı, one of the oldest bazaars in Turkey. We were recommended by one of the locals to stop by KUYUM PİDE Salonu, a famous hole-in-the-wall inside the maze-like market that opened its doors in 1968. It's our first time having proper Pide, which is similar to pizza but with Turkish flair and originated back during the Ottoman times. Forget tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil: this is about the seductively bright flavors of Middle Eastern food. Think fragrant lamb, pungent black pepper, tender spinach and Turkey’s famed peynir cheese. Thin and crispy, the Pide here was delicious!
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Kuyum Pide Salonu, Izmir (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Tarihi Karadeniz Döner at Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta
We end our time in Istanbul with one last doner at Karadeniz Pide Ve Döner Salonu, a 46-year old gem in Istanbul. The owner of the shop, Asim Usta, starts serving his famous doner around 10:30am and it hardly lasts into the afternoon despite having one of the largest rotating spits we’ve ever seen. Juicy, thin layers of marinated lean meat stacked... More
We end our time in Istanbul with one last doner at Karadeniz Pide Ve Döner Salonu, a 46-year old gem in Istanbul. The owner of the shop, Asim Usta, starts serving his famous doner around 10:30am and it hardly lasts into the afternoon despite having one of the largest rotating spits we’ve ever seen. Juicy, thin layers of marinated lean meat stacked atop one another. Rotating on the spit, cooking slowly. Fast service, cheap and delicious, and no frills with outdoor stool-seating. What more can you ask for? 🥙
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Tarihi Karadeniz Pide Ve Döner, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Köfteci Hüseyin at Köfteci Hüseyin 1958
What pizza is to Americans is what Turkish people think of köfte (meatballs). They take it very seriously and it’s very delicious when done right. One of the best spots in Istanbul to have this dish is at Köfteci Hüseyin, which has been serving their delicious grilled meatballs since 1958. They open at 11am and close when they sell out. There’s... More
What pizza is to Americans is what Turkish people think of köfte (meatballs). They take it very seriously and it’s very delicious when done right. One of the best spots in Istanbul to have this dish is at Köfteci Hüseyin, which has been serving their delicious grilled meatballs since 1958. They open at 11am and close when they sell out. There’s only köfte on the menu along with piyaz (a cold white bean salad).
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The founder Huseyin once said in an interview: “They ask me why I don’t serve soup or desserts; making kofte is what I do best and that’s our specialty. Every day we make kofte out of 40 kg of minced (ground beef), onion and bread crumbs and once the meat is finished, our job is finished for the day too, around 4 pm. They ask me why I don’t serve in the evenings; well, there are friends and family to see, time to pause, until the next kofte tomorrow”. 👍🧆
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Köfteci Hüseyin, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
Unbelievable! Spreading out over three floors, Zübeyir Ocakbaşı was opened in 2006 by the grill-master Zübeyir. It has since established a reputation as one of the best grills in Istanbul. Every morning, the chefs prepare fresh, top-quality meat to be grilled over the copper-hooded barbecues that night. Their kebabs are legendary status – for... More
Unbelievable! Spreading out over three floors, Zübeyir Ocakbaşı was opened in 2006 by the grill-master Zübeyir. It has since established a reputation as one of the best grills in Istanbul. Every morning, the chefs prepare fresh, top-quality meat to be grilled over the copper-hooded barbecues that night. Their kebabs are legendary status – for us, the best we’ve ever had! 🥙
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Zübeyir Ocakbaşı, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Dönerci Şahin Usta at Dönerci Şahin Usta
Dönerci Şahin Usta, open since 1969, is literally a hole in the wall with a size of just 4 square meters. Located steps from the entrance of the Grand Bazaar, there’s usually a line around the block consisting mostly of locals waiting to get their hands on some of the city’s best doner. Overall, it’s simplicity at its finest - fluffy pita bread,... More
Dönerci Şahin Usta, open since 1969, is literally a hole in the wall with a size of just 4 square meters. Located steps from the entrance of the Grand Bazaar, there’s usually a line around the block consisting mostly of locals waiting to get their hands on some of the city’s best doner. Overall, it’s simplicity at its finest - fluffy pita bread, thin shavings of juicy meat, tomatoes, onions and parsley. Downright delicious and easily one of the tastiest bites we’ve had in Turkey! 🥙
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Dönerci Şahin Usta, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Bayramoğlu Döner Kavacık at Bayramoğlu Döner
Doner is one of the most famous dishes of Turkey with literally a doner restaurant nearly on every street corner. The origin dates back to the 18th century during the Ottoman Empire, and frankly, it has never lost its appeal. Doner is one of the handful of dishes I could eat all the time – a combination of lamb and beef cooked on a vertical rotisserie... More
Doner is one of the most famous dishes of Turkey with literally a doner restaurant nearly on every street corner. The origin dates back to the 18th century during the Ottoman Empire, and frankly, it has never lost its appeal. Doner is one of the handful of dishes I could eat all the time – a combination of lamb and beef cooked on a vertical rotisserie with wood coal fire served on a plate with a side of lavash bread.
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One of the most iconic places in Istanbul to eat doner is at Bayramoğlu Döner Kavacık. The location is far from any touristic sites, deep in the Asian side of the city. It was a 1 hour taxi ride from our hotel, but the effort was well worth it. There were no other foreigners in the crowd of over 100 locals enjoying dinner. What makes this place special is that it's cooked on real wooden fire, as opposed to many other doner spits, which are cooked on electric fires. That, in addition to the thinness, and the quality of the meat, makes this doner so special. It was so melt-in-your-mouth delicious that we easily finished two plates and left wanting more.
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Bayramoğlu Döner Kavacık, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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- Jason Wang added a new meal Dinner at Karaköy Güllüoğlu at Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Afternoon dessert break at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, a much-loved baklava shop that opened in 1949. It was the first Istanbul branch of the business established in Gaziantep (the capital of baklava) in the 1820’s. Today, it is the first baklava factory in the world. We ordered a variety of different baklavas from the classics to special creations. Everything... More
Afternoon dessert break at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, a much-loved baklava shop that opened in 1949. It was the first Istanbul branch of the business established in Gaziantep (the capital of baklava) in the 1820’s. Today, it is the first baklava factory in the world. We ordered a variety of different baklavas from the classics to special creations. Everything was delicious!
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Karaköy Güllüoğlu, Istanbul (Sept 2019)
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