Anatolian Cuisine is much more than kebab. It is so rich and diverse so it has no boundaries. Yeni Lokanta is a good spot to start exploring in Istanbul. It’s one of my favorite destinations every time I get homesick and miss my mom’s food. The menu consists of variations traditional Anatolian gems with innovative interpretations. 

At lunch time it’s more like a tradesman restaurant where you can taste traditional pot meals, but when dinnertime comes, it turns into a fusion restaurant. 

They serve bowls of starters, and my favorite one was the green beans with burnt yoghurt from Denizli, my hometown, so it was exceptionally good to me.

If you asked me to pick just one meal to eat for the rest of my life, I would definitely choose Kısır, without thinking about it for a second. Kısır is bulghur salad roughly speaking, but trust me, it’s much more than that. The bulgur salad they serve in Yeni Lokanta with sour cherries was even better than traditional kısır. They use the cherries to add a mild sourness to it. It made my day.

Their toasted sourdough bread and smoked butter are both homemade.

If you are undecided among the options, the tasting menu for 2 is the best option! And I do have to note that prices are a little bit high, but it’s worth it.