Where to eat köfte in Istanbul
Köfte — grilled Turkish meatballs — looks simple, but a great one is hard to find. Filizler has been making köfte since 1994: Gönen beef prepared at our own butcher’s kitchen, no additives, grilled to order. Try it in Üsküdar facing the Maiden’s Tower, a short ferry ride from Sultanahmet.
Köfte at Filizler
6’lı Filizler, kasap köfte, cheese (kaşarlı), spicy (acılı), steak köfte and mixed köfte, all served with mashed potatoes, rice and charred peppers. Current prices:
6-piece Filizler
635 TL
Steak Meatballs
900 TL
Butcher's Meatballs
655 TL
Mixed Meatballs
870 TL
Filizler Üsküdar · prices in Turkish lira, from the live menu
See the full menuWhich branch?
- Filizler Üsküdar — Salacak waterfront, facing the Maiden’s Tower; ~11 min walk from Üsküdar Marmaray, ~15 min from the ferry pier. Daily 08:00–22:30.
- Filizler Pendik — large dining room and car park; ~13 min by car from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Daily 08:00–22:30.
- Filizler Tuzla — the original 1994 branch. Daily 10:00–23:00.
Filizler in the press
In a 2012 köfte feature by the Turkish daily Hürriyet (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)
Frequently asked questions
Where can I eat good köfte in Istanbul?
At Filizler Köftecisi, making köfte since 1994: Üsküdar on the Salacak waterfront facing the Maiden’s Tower, Pendik and Tuzla. Halal, no alcohol; menu in 12 languages.
What is köfte?
Turkish grilled meatballs. At Filizler they are made from Gönen beef at our own butcher’s kitchen and served with mashed potatoes, rice and charred peppers.