Restaurant
Turk Fatih Tutak
Chef Fatih Tutak's Bomonti tasting-menu restaurant, holding two Michelin stars and a Green Star, reworking Turkish culinary traditions with modern technique.
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta
A historic Divan Yolu köfte house serving grilled beef meatballs to a 1920 recipe, with bean salad, lentil soup and semolina halva.
At a glance
- Type
- Köfte (Turkish meatballs)
- Area
- Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- sultanahmetkoftesi.com
Good to know
- Short menu
- Quick service
- Takeaway
Why we recommend it
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta is a historic köfte house on Divan Yolu, the main street running from Sultanahmet towards the Grand Bazaar, beside the tram line. It has served grilled meatballs to the same recipe since 1920, and the business has been passed down through the family since then. In a part of the city full of restaurants aimed at visitors, it remains a favourite with Istanbul residents too.
The köfte are made from minced meat, bread, onion and salt, without the heavy spicing found in some other styles, and they are grilled and served simply, without elaborate garnishes. The menu is deliberately short. Alongside the köfte there are lamb şiş kebab, red lentil soup, piyaz, a white bean salad dressed with onion, vinegar and olive oil, rice pilaf and pickles. For dessert there is irmik helvası, a warm semolina halva, and the drink of choice is ayran, a salty yoghurt drink.
The order that most regulars recommend is a portion of köfte with piyaz on the side, perhaps with soup in winter, followed by the semolina helva. Bread comes with the meal. A word of caution: several restaurants nearby use similar names, so check that you are at number 12 Divan Yolu.
Service is quick and the dining room plain and bright, with tables close together, so it suits a fast lunch between sights rather than a long meal. It is busy at lunchtime, but the turnover is fast, and queues usually move quickly. Prices are modest by Sultanahmet standards. There is no alcohol. If you only have a short break between sights, this is one of the most reliable quick meals in the area, and the menu is easy to understand even if you do not speak Turkish.
The restaurant suits families, budget travellers and anyone wanting a simple, authentic meal near the main sights. It is right beside Sultanahmet tram stop on the T1 line. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern are all within a few minutes' walk, and the Grand Bazaar is about ten minutes up Divan Yolu, so it fits neatly into any day in the old city.
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta FAQs
What is on the menu?
Grilled köfte, lamb şiş, red lentil soup, piyaz bean salad, rice pilaf and irmik helvası semolina dessert.
How old is the recipe?
The köfte recipe dates to 1920 and has stayed in the family.
What should I order?
Köfte with piyaz on the side, followed by the semolina helva.
Is it quick?
Yes, service is fast, which makes it ideal for lunch between sights.
Is alcohol served?
No.
How do I find the right one?
It is at number 12 Divan Yolu, beside the tram line; several nearby places use similar names.
What is the phone number?
+90 212 520 05 66.
What is nearby?
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern are a few minutes' walk away.