Zübeyir Ocakbaşı Istanbul

My ex boss is from Gaziantep which is the Kebab Mecca of Turkey. He's had the best kebabs since his childhood and now he singles out Zubeyir as his favorite place for a kebab.

Thanks to him I discovered this place recently and went 2 times in 2 weeks. A bit of bad news for me as I am on a strict diet and my eating habits need to change 180 degrees. Zubeyir is the only place where I forgot about my diet schedule.

There is a limited menu of Mezzes and each of them are made with the best ingredients. All worth a try. After mezzes, the lamb shish is a must have. Very well marinated and tender. Their suggestion is Beyti (kebab) and ribs. All grilled on a coal barbecue in the middle of the room as you can see in the picture. You can even sit next to it and watch the chef prepare and cook your kebab. It is literally grilled half a meter from you while you are drinking your rakı.

When I went there, I was surprised by the high number of tourists enjoying their kebabs. I guess this place is promoted on many websites and guides. This does not mean that it is a touristy place as they are doing their kebabs in the eastern way.

Finally the location is extremely convenient. Just walking distance from Taksim Square!

A must-try experience which is now my wife's personal favorite.