I know we did when we explored the ruins of Yedikule Hisari and followed the Byzantine-era stone walls. (Please see previous post about Istanbul's ancient walls here.)
By following 10 Yil Caddesi behind the Yedikule fortress, about 1.5 kilometers away, you will find some of the best k�fte in the Zeytinburnu neighborhood of Istanbul. There's not much along the main road, which is why this k�ftecisi is such a gem of a place.
Like many of Istanbul's best places to eat, Merkez Efendi K�ftecisi is tucked down a side street. You probably wouldn't know this small restaurant was there unless someone recommended it or you happened to stumble upon it. We enjoyed lunch here thanks to the historical tour we did with Friends of American Research Institute Turkey(FARIT).
We started out with a traditional piyaz, a Turkish bean salad, with onions, parsley, tomatoes, and dressed with olive oil and vinegar. A bowl of spicy sauce was served on the table so I mixed a healthy dollop into my plate of piyaz.
The perfect dish to accompany piyaz is either k�fte or k�fte.
These k�fte (grilled Turkish meatballs) are quite comparable to the ones I've enjoyed at the 81-year-old Tarihi K�ftecisi Selim Usta in Sultanahmet. Juicy, slightly fatty and simply delicious!
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| More spicy paste to accompany the k�fte. |
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| I loved how they served the fresh, homemade ayran in this fancy cup fit for a sultan. |
In Istanbul, you can will see k�fte served just about everywhere. But how often can you eat truly good k�fte in the proximity of nearly 2,000 years of history?
Telsiz Mah. 69 / 1 Sokak, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
From the Yedikule Hisari, follow 10 Yil Caddesi for about 1 kilometer, then turn onto Belgradkapi Cad. You will see Merkez Efendi K�ftecisi located on the corner.
