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Jul 15
Wednesday
Features, Reviews (Eats)
The Grand Bazaar: Come for the Shopping, Stay for the Food

Dining in the Grand Bazaar -- photo by Melanie Einzig

We like to think of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar – open since 1461 – as the world’s oldest shopping mall. If that’s the case, shouldn’t the Grand Bazaar be home to the world’s oldest food court? That may be taking the analogy too far, but for us, the Grand Bazaar can be as much a food destination as a shopping one. As we see it, one of the hidden pleasures of going to the bazaar (once you get past the overzealous shopkeepers hawking souvenirs) is exploring some of its quieter back alleys and interior courtyards for new dining possibilities, especially some of the smaller restaurants that cater not to tourists but rather to the locals who work in the sprawling marketplace.

Below is a list of some favorites:

Kara Mehmet Kebap Salonu
This is one of our favorite places – not only in the Grand Bazaar, but in all of Istanbul. The restaurant, a tiny hole in the wall, serves the usual assortment of kebabs (including, for the daring, kidney and liver kebabs), all expertly grilled by the The usta at Kara Mehmet - photo by Melanie Einzigmustachioed usta. As a testament to the appeal of Kara Mehmet’s kebabs, we recently went there with a vegetarian friend who was so taken with the restaurant’s Adana kebab that he ended up taking his first bite of meat in 30 years.

Food aside, what really draws us to Kara Mehmet is its location, deep inside the open-air courtyard of the Cebeci Han, one of the Grand Bazaar’s numerous out-of-the-way caravanserais. Compared to the bustle in the rest of the bazaar, the Cebeci Han is an oasis of peace and calm, mostly filled with small shops where people repair rugs, rather than sell them. Even the owner of the one actual rug shop inside the courtyard seems more interested in playing backgammon with his friends than moving carpets. When you’re done with your kebab, order Kara Mehmet’s delicious künefe and a tea from the small teahouse next door and enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at bazaar life.

Address: İç Cebeci Han 92, Grand Bazaar
Telephone: 212-527-0533

Gaziantep Burç Ocakbaşı
A friend recently directed us to this small Grand Bazaar eatery and we are now forever in her debt. Located on a narrow side street off one of the bazaar’s busier thoroughfares, this unassuming grill house serves up very tasty Gaziantep-style food (Gaziantep, a city in Turkey’s southeast, is considered one of the country’s culinary capitals). Our Ali Nazik, tender morsels of marinated beef sitting on a bed of a garlicky yogurt-eggplant purée, was perfectly made. The delicious shepherd’s salad served on the side, topped with chopped walnuts and zingy pomegranate molasses, was impeccably fresh. We were even more excited about the restaurant’s specialty – extremely flavorful dolmas, made out of the shells of dried eggplants and red peppers that are rehydrated and then stuffed with a rice and herb mixture and served with yogurt on the side.

Gaziantep Burç Ocakbaşı only has a few tables, which are lined up along the length of the alleyway that is the restaurant’s home. The ambiance is provided by the strings of dried eggplant and peppers that hang above the tables, the smoke and sizzle coming from the grill and the thrum of the bazaar activity all around. We’re already looking for excuses to go back to the Grand Bazaar so that we can stop in at Gaziantep Burç Ocakbaşı again.

Address: Parçacılar Sokak 12, Grand Bazaar
Telephone: 212-527-1516

Havuzlu
Figuring out what to eat is easy here. A large steam table at the front of the restaurant’s open kitchen holds a daily assortment of some 25 dishes, including a variety of meat and vegetable stews that we like to think of as Turkish soul food – Havuzlu - photo by Melanie Einzighomey, well made and fresh. After you make your selection, waiters in black vests and matching ties swiftly bring the food to your table in the slightly tacky 500-year-old dining hall, which has large Ottoman-style blown glass chandeliers hanging from its vaulted ceilings.

In a certain way, Havuzlu – named after the small havuz (water fountain) in front of the restaurant – makes us think of what a Denny’s restaurant might have looked like in Ottoman times, a well-oiled machine serving up comfort food for weary travelers. Of course, rather than burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and Grand Slam breakfasts, they serve spinach stew with yogurt, döner, creamed eggplant and, for dessert, stewed figs with kaymak (Turkish clotted cream). The only proper sit-down place in the Grand Bazaar, Havuzlu may no longer be a secret, but its location, on a quiet corner of the market, gives it the feeling of a refuge – a place to hide out once the shopping has worn you down.

Address: Gani Çelebi Sokak 3, Grand Bazzar
Telephone: 212-527-3346

Editor’s note: After this feature first appeared, we discovered another great Bazaar dining spot: Aynen Dürüm, reviewed here.

(photos by Melanie Einzig)

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12 Responses to “ The Grand Bazaar: Come for the Shopping, Stay for the Food ”
  1. http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/?p=210

    I would’ve never found Kara Mehmet without Istanbuleats. Above is my review

  2. Adana of Kara Mehmet is only a bad example of şiş köfte(skewered meat ball). In order to call some skewered meat Adana it has to be lamb and tail fat minced via a zırh( a big knife) and it has to be flavoured only with salt and red pepper. Mehmet serves ground meat on skewer with a combination of spices. People may have different tastes but there is only one way to serve Adana.

  3. Hi,
    You should definately write about Dönerci Şahin usta. It is the best döner one can eat in Istanbul. When you are facing the Nuru Osmaniye Gate, take the small road to your right and go down. When you see another rşght turn, take it and you will see Dönerci Şahin on the left. It is hard to miss since it’s always crowded. There are no tables or chairs, you have to take your döner and eat it standing, but it’s totally worth it.
    Enjoy!

  4. One piece of feedback regarding Havuzlu. I think they may well operate a special pricing policy for visitors (we’re obviously English with no Turkish) eg we paid 55TL for 2 mains & 1 fig dessert.

    The food was fine but they took the gilt from the gingerbread … we were warned about the taxi drivers but not aware some restaurants might get tacky.

    A shame because we had a great trip & really enjoyed the food everywhere we tried in Istanbul… Ciya would be a gem anywhere & when i think what we ate & drank there was cheaper than Havuzlu.

  5. rl reeves jr

    May 27, 2012
    Reply

    re: Kara Mehmet Kebab Salonu, is it possible that they have closed? We’ve been phoning them daily for over a week and it seems as though nobody is home. thanks for any updated info. RL Reeves Jr.

  6. I will swing by tomorrow and let you know!

  7. rl reeves jr

    May 28, 2012
    Reply

    Thanks Meliz, looking forward to your report. RL Reeves Jr

  8. they are still there, numbers are as follows:
    landline: 212 513 55 20
    GSM: 537 881 60 48

    ( have to say though, not quite as good – nor as inexpensive- as they used to be. )

  9. rl reeves jr

    Jun 13, 2012
    Reply

    meliz: Thanks for the update, they answer at the new number.

  10. I couldn’t find pacacilar so. anywhere on the map,can someone give me more directions, how do I find Gaziantep Burç Ocakbasi?

    Thanks,
    Ashwin.

  11. Hello ashwin, you can find a map of Gaziantep Burc Ocakbasi in this post on our sister website, Culinary Backstreets: http://www.culinarybackstreets.com/istanbul/2012/the-grand-bazaar/


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