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Turkish Cuisine… Outside Of Sheepshead Bay?


by on Jun 14th, 2011

Source: Anne Szustek of "Brooklyn Based"

Who knew that Midwood had such a dazzling array of eateries exclusively specializing in Turkish cuisine? Apparently Brooklyn Based’s Anne Szustek knew, because she wrote the ultimate compendium on where to go and what to order if one has the inclination to fress on some Agean or Black Sea delicacies beyond the borders of our favorite neighborhood:

Brooklyn’s Turkish community is located in the southern reaches of the borough. There are Turkish restaurants and shops in Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay but you’re most likely to hear Turkish spoken on the street in Midwood. Home to Brooklyn College and painted Victorian houses, the neighborhood is easily accessible via the B, Q and F trains. Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue are among its main thoroughfares; the Kings Highway B/Q stop is a good starting point to explore the Turkish community.

The Turks, for their part, use yogurt as liberally as mustard or ketchup—atop pasta, roast meats and vegetables alike. Casual fans of Turkish cuisine may be well acquainted with savory, spicy shish kebabs—another Turkish word. But these skewered treats hardly scratch the surface of the country’s cuisine. Turkey, straddling two continents and 81 provinces, is a hodgepodge of flavors.

Among the places she checks out are Taci’s Beyti (1955 Coney Island Avenue), Güllüoğlu Bakery (1985 Coney Island Avenue) and Turkish Café (1618 East 16th Street).

But beware, Anne points out: “Just don’t go to a Turkish restaurant and eat falafel, which is not a Turkish dish at all—it’s actually nigh impossible to find in the country outside of snooty Istanbul restaurants catering to expats and moneyed Turks who often developed a taste for it while studying abroad in the U.S. or U.K.”

Ah, the more you know, eh? What are some of your favorite Turkish spots?

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  • Barkingspider7

    This food looks delicious.  Does anyone know what it is called?  I cook turkish, greek, arabic foods, but don’t know what this is.

    • http://twitter.com/the59thStBridge Anne Szustek

      Hey there…Anne Szustek of reblogged compendium fame. The food in the pic is called “pide.” This specific pide was topped with kasar cheese and sucuk sausage, a lamb sausage so fabulously greasy that it fries itself when thrown into a pan, sans butter or oil. 

  • Anonymous

    Taci’s Beyti is by far one of the best places to eat in Southern Brooklyn. Also this Anne broad is 100% on eating well know “standard” dishes. You walk in to Beyti and order anything with an eggplant. I guaranty out of body experience.

    • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erica-Sherman-Photographer/156144554406226?ref=mf ES

      Most foods provide an out of body experience. It’s called peristalsis. :P

      • Anonymous

        Peristalsis is what Susan from apartment 6J calls it when she wants it Greek. While that is more of inner body experience than outer, let’s focus on how great  Beyti is.

      • Barkingspider7

        peristalsis is food going down – reverse peristalsis is the out of body experience!  Tacis Beyti is definitely great food!

        • Anonymous

          No, no it reverse cowgirl peristalsis that is out of body experience :)

          • Barkingspider7

            Faba – you’re being bad again!!!

  • Margaraeta

    Taci’s Beyti is the closest I’ve had to the cuisine I experienced in Turkey.  I go there when I miss Turkish chai, which is mandatory after a meal in Turkey. (You get chai whether you want it or not.) I was never in Istanbul, but I don’t recall seeing falafel either.  Thanks for the heads up on other places to try. 

  • TJ

    What about SAHARA on Coney Island Ave ?????

    • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erica-Sherman-Photographer/156144554406226?ref=mf ES

      I think it is considered Gravesend and not Midwood.

    • Anonymous

      Eww. ONLY If i’m desperate!

    • http://twitter.com/stefamafone Mos Stef

      No way. I practically live across the street from Sahara, and yet I’ll still make the trek to Taci’s Beyti.

      The chicken in yogurt, goddamn. I forgot what it’s called, but it blew my mind and that’s probably why I’m blanking out on it.

      • Anonymous

        Yogurtlu Chicken?

      • Animo916

         I used to love Sahara.  I have not been there in quite some time as I hear it is not the same any more.  I do frequent Annitoli Gyro on the Bay Rd. and it is quite good.  Went into Taci’s Beyti one time and was totally ignored…so I walked out.  For a good meal, I will go to Liman’s on Emmons Ave……never had anything there, that didn’t taste delicious.

  • http://www.njluxurymotors.com Arthur Borko

    How is Memo’s Shishkabob not on this list?

    • Barkingspider7

      Memo’s is great food also.  I love the lamb gyro and village salad there.

      • Animo916

         Where’s Memo?  (Gee that sounds like it could be the name of a movie)

        • Anonymous

          Memo Shishkebob
          1821 Kings Hwy
          (between 18th St & 19th St)

          Brooklyn, NY 11229

          • Anonymous

            that place is horrid.   and me and my wife got food poisoned eating there. Eat with caution.

            if ya wanna try a MEAN chicken gyro, this place around the corner from where i work has it, place is called Shwarma Ave. Israeli Grill, it’s a bit pricey but it’s pretty good.

            Ask for it on Laffa won’t regret it!

            Also Every Wed and Thursday they make something called Chamin pronounced Hamin it’s like Israeli Chili but not spicy more meaty and delicious! made overnight with a slow cooker.

  • Nyckat

    Taci Beyti is awesome, but if you want to stay close to home try Uyghur-Uzbek food at Cafe Kashkar on Brighton Beach! Yum..the manty, lagman kebobs are wonderful, salads are refreshing and tasteful, one warning- byob and ice too!
    This, like Taci, is a little hole in the wall place- without Taci’s party room! but if you go a few times when you walk past on the way to the stores on Brighton, they always stop you to say hello!