Where To Find The Best Kftes In Turkey

It would be entirely insufficient to call köfte a “Turkish meatball” because it’s so much more than that. Hand-kneaded thoroughly with various spices and herbs, as well as onion, garlic, and bread crumbs (usually), Turkish köfte has many different variations, ingredients, and accompaniments, depending on every region and every cook. Here is a countdown to some great places where you can indulge in the ultimate Turkish comfort food.

1. Köfteci Ali Baba

Restaurant, Turkish

Opened in 1982 in Istanbul’s Arnavutköy neighborhood, famed for its waterfront Ottoman mansions, Köfteci Ali Baba is a pretty laid-back joint in an upscale area. Here, you’ll get a very straightforward menu of excellently grilled köfte with piyaz (bean vinaigrette salad) and ayran (yogurt drink).

2. Bursa Çiçek Izgara

Restaurant, Turkish

One of Bursa’s best restaurants to get some real Turkish home cooking, Çiçek Izgara has been around since 1963 and happens to make pretty amazing köfte. You can choose from the classic grilled köfte and köfte with melted kaşar cheese in the middle.

3. Özcanlar Köfte

Restaurant, Turkish

As mentioned previously, every region/city is proud of its köfte, and here you’ll find Tekirdağ Köfte, which hasn’t changed since the opening of Özcanlar in 1953. With three branches to their name, the restaurant handles its own meat production, so you’ll know you’ll be getting a high-quality köfte.

5. Beyti

Restaurant, Turkish, Middle Eastern

One of Istanbul’s most well-known grilled meat restaurants, Beyti, which has been around since 1945, is famous for its namesake Beyti Kebab. However, like all the other grilled meat varieties on the menu, their köfte is just perfect and served with mashed potatoes and rice.

6. Çanak

Restaurant, Turkish, Vegetarian

Hidden away in Istanbul’s historic Balat neighborhood, you’d walk right past this place if you didn’t know better. At Çanak, you’ll find the city’s best kuru fasulye (bean stew) and köfte accompanied by buttery rice and thick yogurt made from water buffalo milk.

7. Özdoyum

Restaurant, Turkish

This longstanding restaurant, established in 1974, is the best place to get some delicious köfte in Antalya. Unlike its rivals, Özdoyum’s köftes are made without herbs and cooked only with salt on a shish over a charcoal barbecue. The accompanying piyaz and ayran, however, have remained true to the classic recipes.

8. Nihat Usta Köfte Salonu

Restaurant, Turkish

Open since 1974, Nihat Usta really knows how to make a good köfte and has even managed to expand into a larger restaurant because of his popularity. You’ll find Trabzon’s famous Akçaabat köfte prepared perfectly every time.

9. Meşhur Köfteci Mustafa

Restaurant, Turkish

A köfte legend in Adapazarı, Meşhur Köfteci Mustafa, opened in 1912, is known for its excellent ıslama köfte (köfte on toasted bread that is then soaked in beef broth and red pepper). Three generations later, and the family continues the tradition of the delicious köfte, whose ingredients have remained a secret.

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