Kebab restaurants in Istanbul
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A
Hamdi Et Lokantası
A favourite İstanbullu haunt since 1970, Hamdi has phenomenal views overlooking the Golden Horn and Galata that are matched by great food, professional service and a bustling atmosphere. Try the haydari (yoghurt with roasted eggplant and garlic), the içli köfte (meatballs rolled in bulgur ) and the patıcanlı kebab (lamb kebab with eggplant) and you’ll see what we mean. Any place this good is always going to be busy, so make sure you book, and don’t forget to request a rooftop table with a view (outside if the weather is hot). If you get there early (around 6pm), you might be able to score one of these without booking. Enter through the ground-floor baklava shop.
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B
Khorasani
When considering ocakbaşıs, the word stylish doesn’t often come to mind. Succulent, yes. Smoky, sometimes. But stylish? Hmm. The owners of this new place off Divan Yolu are aiming to challenge preconceptions with Khorasani, and it seems to be working for their predominantly tourist clientele. Here, the meat plays second fiddle to the surrounds, which are extremely attractive. The chef hails from Antakya, and the kebap style is that of southeastern Anatolia, meaning that a few spicy dishes adorn the menu. A welcome addition to the Sultanahmet eating scene.
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C
Konak
Eateries on İstiklal are often dreadful, but this long-time favourite bucks the trend. It serves excellent kebaps and pides; try the delectable İskender kebap and follow up with a serving of Turkey’s famous but hard-to-find Maraş ice cream and you’ll be both happy and replete. There’s another branch near Tünel, but this one is much better.
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D
Zinhan Kebap House at Storks
Zinhan’s regal position next to the Galata Bridge means that every İstanbullu knows it. Unfortunately (for them, that is) most haven’t eaten here. If you buck this trend, you’ll enjoy an excellent meal on one of the most impressive roof terraces in the city – the views from here are simply sensational. Best is the fact that there are lots of tables in prime positions, meaning that you won’t have to book weeks ahead. You’ll sit on comfortable chairs at huge, well-spaced tables to enjoy tasty mezes such as hummus pastırmalı (hummus with pastırma ) and sophisticated kebap dishes such as ali nazik (spicy kebap on a bed of broiled eggplant salad with garlic yog…
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E
Burç Ocakbaşı
We promised a shopkeeper friend that listing this unassuming ocakbaşı in the Grand Bazaar wouldn’t lead to it being overrun by tourists. Now we’re worried that we may have been overly optimistic. He was concerned that the usta (master cook) at his favourite lunch spot – a previously well-guarded secret – would end up being too busy to pay proper attention to the juicy cuts of Gaziantep-style meats and delicious dolmas that he serves to the locals (the southeastern region of Gazientep is considered one of Turkey’s culinary hotspots). We sincerely hope this won’t be the case. You can pull up a stool or ask for your kebap to be a durum (wrapped in bread) to go.
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F
Zübeyir Ocakbaşi
Every morning, the chefs at this popular ocakbaşı prepare the fresh, top-quality meats to be grilled over their handsome copper-hooded barbecues that night: spicy chicken wings and Adana kebaps, flavoursome ribs, pungent liver kebaps and well-marinated lamb şış kebaps. Their offerings are famous throughout the city, so booking a table is essential if you wish to sample some meat and rakı in one of the city’s most friendly and boisterous eateries. A hint: order one dish at a time and share each with your dining companions.
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G
Karadeniz Aile Pide Ve Kebap Salonu
This long-timer off Divan Yolu serves a delicious mercimek (lentil soup) and is also a favourite for its pide. You can claim a table in the utilitarian interior, but most people prefer those on the cobbled lane. The Karadeniz Aile Pide & Kebap Sofrası opposite is equally welcoming and cheap.
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H
Karadeniz Aile Pide & Kebap Sofrası
A welcoming and cheap food option, and a favourite for its pide.
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I
Buhara Restaurant & Ocakbaşi
If you’re craving a kebab, this unassuming eatery might be the solution. Management can be gruff and the servings are on the small side, but the quality of the meat is good. You can order an Efes to accompany your meal.
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