Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
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.
3 editor picks for Künefe in Gaziantep, ranked by editorial score. All Gaziantep signature dishes · Künefe across every city.
Also in: Istanbul.
Cumba Künefe on Ali Nadi Ünler Bulvarı serves the Gaziantep cheese pastry in oversized sharing trays, open from breakfast until two in the morning.
OrderKünefe with whole pistachios and a scoop of ice cream.
TipPortions are bigger than usual. Share one and add the ice cream rather than ordering two.
Erçelebi Kömürde Kadayıf finishes every kadayıf over charcoal in Sarıgüllük, a Gaziantep dessert room that keeps serving until one in the morning.
OrderCharcoal kadayıf, fired to order rather than reheated.
TipNothing sits ready on a tray here. Expect a ten-minute wait while the kadayıf goes over the coals.
Künefe Han bakes shredded pastry over stretchy cheese until late in Şehitkamil, and Gaziantep families treat it as the after-dinner second stop.
OrderA tray of künefe with extra pistachio dust.
TipOne tray feeds two. Order it at the table so it arrives while the cheese is still stretching.
Künefe makes more sense with someone from Gaziantep explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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.
