What is the most famous city for kebab in the Middle East?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Istanbul may be the city where continents meet, but it is also the best place for meat and countless recipes for the famous Turkish kebab. Istanbul made one of the meat-loving chefs into a “superstar,” namely Chef Nusret Gokce, who is described as “the lover of salt,” and he continues to excite the taste buds of millions of visitors annually.

Experts say that food and hospitality are the best way to understand the fusion of cultures that immigrants brought to Istanbul not only from Turkey, but also from Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In fact, Istanbul may be the only place in Türkiye where you can taste cuisine from every region in the country and beyond.

“We can travel around Istanbul just for the kebab, and experience every region in Turkey,” says Ansel Mullins, a writer and founder of a food tourism company called Culinary Backstreets. “The influence of the region is very important, that is, people from all over Turkey migrating to Istanbul for economic reasons, or to escape from the dangerous places in the country in previous decades.” While Istanbul's population has increased significantly in recent times, the city has long held significant influence, serving as the capital of three major empires - Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman.

“There is a cultural hurricane happening here,” said Turkish psychologist and author Akila Azra Cohen, explaining: “Being in the middle of two continents, there is a necessity to bring together all cultures and all people’s needs.” But, according to Mullins, the best way to understand this majestic city is to examine the cuisine served in its 39 districts and 936 neighborhoods. Between one region and another, there are slight differences in traditional Turkish cuisine, and the reason is due to the roots of the population who moved here from different parts of Türkiye.

In some Western countries, the word "kebab" is synonymous with cheap fast food, often consumed after a night out. The "Doner Kebab" is considered the most famous internationally, in addition to the "Shish Kebab", which is small cubes of meat or fish that are placed on skewers and grilled over charcoal.

The Kadinlar Pazari neighborhood in the Fatih district of Istanbul is famous for its Buryan Kebab and Bardali Pilaf, which are popular in the Turkish Siirt region. Buryan Kebab is made from lamb cooked over charcoal in an underground pit, and is one of the most delicious Turkish foods.

It is likely that mutton is prepared in a completely different way in the areas surrounding Kadinlarpazari. In fact, visitors can venture and walk the streets of Turkey and watch chefs grilling lamb over charcoal, as it is known in the city of Urfa in southeastern Turkey, and the meal was later called “Urfa kebab.”

This level of dedication to cooking is common in the city, especially among the older generation, who are proud of their culinary traditions and intend to preserve them. In fact, influential chef Musa Daudeveren is passionate about protecting the heritage of the Turkish cooking methods he is developing, and training the next generation in the art of traditional cooking.

“People who live in cities don’t know their traditions,” says Davudferen, who hails from the city of Nizip in southern Türkiye, adding, “It seems they have completely forgotten their culinary past.” “In a way, traditional dishes form the basis of our heritage,” explained Daudveren, noting: “We need to protect the values ​​of our land and our culture, because these aspects form the backbone of past civilizations.” Helping put the Turkish food scene in the spotlight is a special restaurant, albeit not for traditional reasons, by Chef Nusret Gokce, also known as “The Salt Lover.” Gokce was able to establish a restaurant in the largest city in Turkey after working in many restaurants in Argentina, and he continued to be popular on the Internet, thanks to his brilliant method of preparing meat and sprinkling salt on top of it.

Gokce used his Internet fame to transform his restaurant in Istanbul into an international steakhouse chain with branches in New York, Miami, and Dubai. “This work has become everything I have,” says Gokce, who now has 18 million followers on Instagram.