Filizler Köftecisi

Where to eat köfte in Istanbul

Köfte — grilled Turkish meatballs — is Istanbul’s everyday favourite. This guide explains the main types, where in the city to eat them and how to tell a good one. Filizler has been making köfte since 1994.

Types of köfte

  • Izgara / kasap köfte: minced beef, onion and breadcrumbs, grilled; served with bean salad and charred peppers.
  • Kaşarlı köfte: with melted kaşar cheese.
  • Acılı köfte: spicy, with chilli sauce.
  • Steak köfte: thicker and larger, cooked like a steak.
  • İnegöl köfte: small, elongated, mildly spiced (Bursa style).
  • Tekirdağ köfte: flat, cumin-scented (Thrace style).

Where in the city

  • Sultanahmet and Sirkeci: the oldest köfte tradition; busy at lunchtime.
  • Kadıköy: İnegöl and Balkan-style köfte.
  • Üsküdar – Salacak: köfte facing the Maiden’s Tower at Filizler Üsküdar.
  • Pendik and Tuzla: family meals at Filizler Pendik (large car park) and the original Filizler Tuzla.

Filizler in the press

In a 2012 köfte feature by the Turkish daily Hürriyet (Hürriyet Cumartesi, 3 March 2012), a jury of food writers and journalists ranked Filizler Köftecisi first on its “top 10” köfte list.

Source: Hürriyet: İster porsiyon ister ekmek arası (2012, Turkish)

Köfte at Filizler

Prepared at our own butcher’s kitchen and grilled to order. Current prices at the Üsküdar branch (Turkish lira):

  • 4'lü Filizler4 adet mini hamburger450 TL
  • 6'lı Filizler6 adet mini hamburger635 TL
  • FilizburgerÖzel hazırlanmış hamburger575 TL
  • Kasap KöfteGeleneksel Türk usulü ızgara köfte655 TL
  • Kaşarlı KöfteKaşar peynirli ızgara köfte655 TL
  • Acılı KöfteAcı soslu ızgara köfte655 TL
  • Karışık KöfteÇeşitli köfte çeşitlerinden oluşan tabak870 TL
  • Special FilizlerÖzel hazırlanmış et tabağı1.495 TL
  • Steak KöfteSteak usulü hazırlanmış köfte900 TL
  • Kaşarlı Steak KöfteKaşar peynirli steak usulü köfte1.000 TL

Filizler Üsküdar menu, prices in Turkish lira; updated from the restaurant’s live menu.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat good köfte in Istanbul?

The historic köfte houses of Sultanahmet and Sirkeci, and on the Asian side Filizler Köftecisi (since 1994) in Üsküdar facing the Maiden’s Tower, Pendik and Tuzla.

What is köfte?

Turkish grilled meatballs, usually minced beef with onion and breadcrumbs, served with bread, salad and grilled peppers.

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