Turkish Cafe Istanbul at TTDI Taman Tun Dr Ismail: Restaurant Review

Afiyet Olsun! A taste of Istanbul has come to Taman Tun Dr Ismail, thanks to this cosy new Turkish-run cafe, where a concise menu supplies several intriguing specialities that work well for a comforting meal.

Turkish Breakfast

Begin with brunch: If you’re searching for a refreshing change from Western-style Big Breakfasts, then check out this Turkish breakfast, a satisfying platter that showcases not only beautifully runny eggs, sausages & potatoes (all the in the foreground) but also olives, traditional sliced sucuk spiced sausages, feta cheese & flat bread. Recommended for RM19.

Traditional Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs get a mouthwatering makeover in this savoury ‘menemen’ (remember the name; it’s well worth trying), a traditional recipe that features ravishingly creamy eggs cooked with tomatoes & peppers. Indulgently tasty, a triumphant treat for egg lovers. RM9 (prices at Istanbul Turkish Cafe are easy on the wallet).

Fresh-Tasting Simit

Most of the breakfast dishes – including this classic bagel-like ‘simit’ (RM5), fresh-tasting, sesame-crusted bread rings with a thick, substantial bite & pleasant chewiness, partnered with butter & jam – are available to order until noon, but customers can probably request them for lunch too if the outlet’s not too busy.

Adana Kebab

In the afternoon & at night, Istanbul Turkish Cafe moves into even heartier fare, like wraps stuffed with hand-minced adana kebab (chicken, beef or lamb), served with fries & a salad (RM15-RM20, depending on the customer’s choice of meat).

Turkish Pizza

The distinctively shaped Turkish pizza (RM16), a doughy delight that’s well-topped with minced meat & cheese, best consumed piping-hot, potentially sufficient for two to share.

Meat Kofte

Meat-seekers can opt for the beef & lamb kofte, tender & well-flavoured meatballs served with both mashed potatoes & rice for a plate that’s loaded with both protein & carbs (RM20).

Falafel

We know there are many fans of falafel out there: Istanbul Turkish Cafe serves a respectable rendition, very crispy on the outside, packed with smashed chickpeas within. RM15.

Sweets

Save space for sweets; Eline Saglik to cafe owner Deniz, his wife, chef & the rest of the team here for hosting this lunch. Istanbul Turkish Cafe is still a bit of a hidden secret, secluded on one of TTDI’s less-travelled back-streets, but we think we’ll be hearing more about it in the months ahead.

Turkish Coffee

The Turkish theme courses through the beverages; naturally, there’s Turkish coffee, but there are also Turkish fruit juices (cherry, apricot & pomegranate). Even the mineral water comes from Turkey.