This is a restaurant you have to visit when in Istanbul. I say this for a couple reasons: a) it is regarded by many as the best if not one of the best restaurants in the city and b) it was featured on the Netflix series Chef’s Table, so there’s quite a bit of hype (justified) surrounding it. Ciya Sofrasi on the Asian side of Istanbul has justifiably captured the hearts and imaginations of locals and tourists alike, but not only for the above two reasons, but because they actually do some amazing food. And the unique beauty is that the food is constantly changing depending on the season and available ingredients. So much so, that they actually don’t even have a menu for this very reason. Read on to find out more about this restaurant and our experience there.
Netflix’s Chef’s Table
Naturally, the restaurant shot to fame due to its appearance on the hit Netflix series. Musa Dağdeviren is the celebrity chef and owner of this fascinating restaurant. It is said about him that even when young he was very observant of his mother’s cooking and she predicted that he would be the one who holds onto traditional cooking and dishes. When he grew older he started to realise that regional home cooking and dishes were become a thing of the past as mainstream foods were taking over the culinary scene in major cities like Istanbul. So, he ventured into a number of different villages and learnt from the older generation, recipes for dishes that were pure Turkish home food, as homely as you’re going to get! With the encouragement of his wife, he then decided to use these recipes to open up this restaurant, which attracted 2,500 on the opening night!! I, for one, am certainly not surprised at Netflix wanting to feature him, his journey and this amazing restaurant. What a story!
Kadikoy Market on the Asian side
Istanbul can boast to be the only city in the whole world to be in two continents: Europe and Asia. Now, that’s something boast-worthy. A lot of the major tourist attractions are on the European side, so naturally most don’t want to or don’t get the time to venture into the Asian side. However, they are missing out on some culinary goodness! Ask any local and they’ll tell you that the Asian side has the best food. This side is more rustic, charming, affordable and just feels more authentic. Likewise, the food scene on this side is second to none. If you’re a foodie, you’ll definitely want to visit this side of Istanbul. In particular, the area of Kadikoy on the Asian side is famous for its food scene. From the numerous wonderful eateries, sits Ciya Sofrasi.
Turkish Meze
The restaurant’s menu is constantly changing, so it is unlikely you’ll go on two occasions and find exactly the same dishes on offer. In fact, that is why they actually do not have a menu. You simply check out what they’ve got on show and you pick what you’d like to sample. Something always on offer is Turkish meze, but the specific dishes and dips will differ though. What is Turkish meze? Similar to the mezzes you will find in Arab restaurants in the sense that it serves the purpose as a platter of starters or appetisers to share around the table, but it differs quite distinctively in terms of the actual dishes on offer. In reality, we didn’t explore Turkish mezes enough and I am only realising now how worthy they are of exploring. It is a fascinating part of the Turkish cuisine. There is so much variety. There’s cold, there’s hot, there’s spicy, there’s savoury, there’s white, there’s pink. And when all of it is beautifully spread on the table it makes for a wonderful communal dining experience.
Chestnut Kebab
You’ll find many unique dishes at this restaurant that you probably will not find anywhere else. These are dishes that are strictly found in homes only, so it is an absolute honour to be able to sample some home Turkish food, real home Turkish food! One that really stood out due to it being so interesting and delicious is the dish named Chestnut kebab. It is a dish that consists of kebab and also cooked chestnut (something very popular on the streets of Istanbul). Provided the perfect crunch and the flavours complimented the dish overall beautifully too. I don’t know if this’ll be available when you visit or if you’ll find this anywhere else, but if you do, it’s definitely worth trying.
Getting there
Google Maps Location link: click here
