Verified in 2 cities.
Künefe is a signature dish of Turkey; we have verified places to eat it in Gaziantep and Istanbul.
Shredded kadayıf pastry packed above and below a layer of unsalted stretching cheese, baked or fired over charcoal until the outside is bronzed, then soaked in syrup and buried in pistachio.
Künefe belongs to the wider Levantine belt and Hatay claims the loudest version, but Gaziantep makes it its own with the pistachio and with the charcoal. Dessert rooms across Şehitkamil fire individual copper trays to order rather than reheating a large tray, so the cheese is still pulling when it reaches the table. It is eaten late: the künefe rooms of Pancarlı and Sarıgüllük run to one or two in the morning and treat the after-dinner crowd as their main service. Erçelebi finishes its kadayıf over coals, which gives a smokier edge than an oven ever does.
Where to eat in Gaziantep:
Where to eat Künefe in Gaziantep: the editor picks
Shredded kataifi pastry layered over melted Hatay cheese, baked golden in a copper pan, soaked in lemony sugar syrup, served hot with crushed pistachio and clotted cream.
Künefe is the canonical Levantine cheese pastry, with Antakya (Hatay) in southern Turkey claiming the strongest version; the pastry arrived in Istanbul's Beyoğlu kitchens through the 20th century as the city's southern-Turkish community grew. The dish uses Hatay's distinctive unsalted whey cheese for its stretchy melt, sandwiched between layers of crisp kataifi pastry. Hafız Mustafa, Saray Muhallebicisi and the Beyoğlu dessert houses all serve the version with kaymak (Turkish clotted cream).
Where to eat in Istanbul:
Where to eat Künefe in Istanbul: the editor picks
Private tour · 5 hours
Discover Gaziantep’s history, art, and cuisine on a guided tour. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, taste local street food, and explore the city’s vibrant streets.
3 hours
Join a local family in Gaziantep for a traditional Antep cooking class. Learn how to prepare classic dishes, enjoy a warm welcome, and savor the flavors of Gaziantep.
Guided tour · 2 hours
Explore Gaziantep’s culinary delights and cultural heritage on a guided walking tour. Sample iconic dishes, visit traditional markets, and learn about the city’s rich history.
