Hünkar Lokantası
Pomegranate Juice
Housemade Bread
Paca Corbasi – Lamb Trotter Soup, Vinegar, Garlic
Imambayildi – Stuffed Eggplant, Rice
Hummus
Su Boregi – Beef Layer Pastry
Hünkar Begendi – Eggplant Puree, Lamb
Karsik Izgara – Sirloin Steak, Shish Kebap, Grilled Meatball, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Corbaci Pepper, Rice with Chickpeas
Kuzu Pirzola – Lamb Chops, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Corbaci Pepper, Rice with Chickpeas
Tea
Sutlu Kadayif – Shredded Wheat, Hazelnut, Sugar, Milk
Firin Sutlac – Baked Rice Pudding
Kaymakli Ekmek Kadayifi – Bread Pie, Kaymak, Syrup
Kabak Tatlisi – Pumpkin, Syrup, Walnuts
First established in Fatih in 1950 and moved to Nişantaşı in 2000 Hünkar Lokantası was once considered one of the “100 Best Restaurants Of World” by Restaurant Magazine, and although this may seem far fetched the kitchen continues to turn out excellent Turkish & Ottoman Food today.
Managed by Feridun and Galip Ügümü, their open kitchen greeting guests from 12h00 to 22h30 daily, it is atop white tablecloths that menus are offered alongside warm Bread and drinks such as freshly-squeezed Pomegranate Juice to begin.
Traditionally decorated with an English-fluent staff, the nearby neighborhood quiet and upscale, it was on a slow Sunday that Hünkar was found happy to make suggestions including traditional Lamb Trotter Soup packing a whole lot of Vinegar and Garlic.
Still family owned in its third generation, a fourth also involved in management, Appetizers arrive temperature appropriate in the form cold stuffed Eggplant, creamy Hummus with fragrant Oil and warm Beef in Puff Pastry.
Relying on the grill for entrees, both Lamb Chops and varieties of Beef nicely cooked alongside Rice, Tomatoes and Peppers, the restaurant’s specialty of Hünkar Begendi translates as “admired by the Sultan” and certainly earns its accolades thanks to crispy-skinned Lamb on a bed of mashed Aubergine.
Not taking any shortcuts with sweets, a baker’s dozen made in-house daily, options range from milky to Fruit-based with the baked Rice Pudding and sweetened Pumpkin good but not nearly so compelling as Sutlu Kadayif or Bread Pie known as “Kaymakli Ekmek Kadayifi” served beneath Kaymak.
www.hunkarnisantasi.com