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Best Iskender Kebab in Istanbul

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We have already established how diverse Istanbul is when it comes to food. Now, we will yet again
encounter another kind of food, a food dubbed as one of the most famous meat foods in the city.

This famous meat food goes by name of İskender kebab. Iskender kebab has taken its name from its
inventor, İskender Efendi (İskender meaning ‘Alexander’), who lived in Bursa in the late 19th century. It
can be assumed to be derived from a verticalized version Cağ Kebabı, from Erzurum.

It is a kind of döner kebab prepared from thinly cut grilled lamb basted with hot tomato sauce over
pieces of pita bread and generously slathered with melted sheep butter and yogurt. Additionally, one
cylindrical köfte can be placed on top. It is commonly consumed with şıra as a drink to aid digestion.
Tomato sauce and boiling butter are sometimes poured over the dish, at the table.

Now that you have an idea what Iskender Kebab is along with its history, it is now time to list down
some of the best Iskender Kebab found in the city.

First on the list is Kebapci Iskender. The founder of Iskender kebap having the privilege to legally use
the name “Iskender” comes from the family owning this restaurant that dates back from 1867. The
restaurant originated from another city, Bursa, and most of the materials from yoghurt to pita come

from Bursa. The only choice in the menu is iskender kebap. It is located in Kadikoy close to the harbour,
next to the main post office and has also branch in Erenkoy – Bağdat Street.

Another restaurant originating from city of Bursa is Uludag Kebapcisi. The restaurant specialized on
Iskender Kebap considered as the best for some of the gurme in Istabul. Boiling butter dressing the
kebap is said to provide this unique taste. Some people used to travel more than 200 km from Istanbul
to Bursa just to eat this phenomenal iskender kebap, but now it has a branch in Istanbul. One of the
branch is behind the Carrefour in Kozyatagi, and there is also a branch in a popular street – Nispetiye in
Etiler.

If you want larger servings of Iskender Kebap that contains various type of meat, on the other hand,
then Niyazibey Kebap is the best place for you. They are considered to offer one of the best Iskender
kebap in the city. Also, they not only serve the specialty of the house, large size Iskender kebap, but
their menu is varied as well to accommodate costumer’s taste buds.

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