mutfakkoz

The story

mutfakkoz Istanbul – Bib Gourmand Turkish Cuisine in Kadıköy

mutfakkoz

In Kadıköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul, Chef Kürşat runs a kitchen that feels both intimate and unfussy. The space, named simply “mutfakkoz” (kitchen corner), is his stage for a deeply personal take on Turkish cuisine. The Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026 award, given for good quality, good value cooking, confirms what locals already know: this is a place where skill and sincerity meet on the plate.

The menu reads like a love letter to Anatolian offal and seasonal produce. Start with the gingered beef trotter soup, a restorative classic served in two sizes, or the beef tongue and tripe terrine with capers and spicy sauce. For sharing, there is a vivid green almond cacik made with strained yogurt and pickled green almonds, and a smoky eggplant salad that tastes of summer.

Sandwiches arrive on brioche, each one a clever, handheld composition. The short rib brioche piles pulled beef with fresh herb sauce and caramelised onions; the cold beef liver version honours the Albanian-style liver tradition with mustard and herbs. Among the main plates, the sac kavurma with fresh pappardelle pairs beef striploin with fire-roasted vegetables, while the slow-cooked boneless beef short ribs come with a rich demi-glace and a warm potato salad. A porcini and morel “sosyete mantısı” wraps mushrooms and seasonal vegetables in fresh yufka, finished with garlic cashew yogurt – a vegan standout.

Desserts are simple and satisfying: a lemon fairy with lemon curd and cinnamon, or a dark chocolate crème brûlée. The drinks list includes a spicy beetroot ayran and cornelian cherry juice. Closed Sunday and Monday, mutfakkoz is a restaurant that knows exactly what it is – and that confidence makes every visit feel like a discovery.