istanbul, turkey part 3: ciya sofresi

ciya sofresi, a restaurant on the asian side of turkey, had some of the most unique and memorable dishes of our entire trip. after a brief (and somewhat tumultous) ferry and cab ride to this little food hotspot, we gorged on plates and “half-portions” of what we would be later wishing we knew how to make.

the walls of this restaurant are crowded with write-ups and excellent reviews (food and wine, travel and leisure, new york times) from media outlets across the globe. we soon learned why. below are some photos (and attempted descriptions) of the food at ciya.

eggplant, chicken and tomato stew

roasted and stuffed portobello mushrooms with yogurt

one of my favorites: wheatberries with herbs, tomatoes and spices

my mom’s favorite: yogurt, saffron and leek soup with lamb

pressed bulgar wheat with yogurt sauce

creamy garlic and dill soup with rice balls

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ciya sofresi must not be missed if you visit istanbul! we were too stuffed for dessert, but rumor has it that the dessert is absolutely outstanding, and completely unique (think semolina cakes with cinnamon and dates or creamy figs with walnuts), as well.