Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Tiny rice and meat balls the size of a fingernail, cooked with chickpeas in a warm yoghurt soup finished with dried mint butter. It is the feast dish of Gaziantep, made for Eid mornings.
Yuvalama is a labour dish. The balls are rolled by hand from a paste of soaked rice and minced lamb, each one no bigger than a chickpea, which is why it appears at festivals and family gatherings rather than on a weekday. The base is yoghurt stabilised with egg and starch so it can be heated without splitting, and chickpeas and shredded lamb go in alongside the rolled balls. It is finished with butter and dried mint. Gaziantep families traditionally eat it on the first morning of Kurban Bayramı, and restaurants that cook it are signalling that they do regional home food, not just kebab.
3 editor picks for Yuvalama in Gaziantep, ranked by editorial score. All Gaziantep signature dishes · Yuvalama across every city.
Yesemek Gaziantep Mutfağı cooks the home dishes the kebab houses skip, from yuvalama to alaca çorba, a short walk downhill from Gaziantep Castle.
OrderYuvalama, the yoghurt and chickpea soup Gaziantep eats at feast time.
TipHalf portions are available, which is the way to taste four regional dishes in one sitting.
Hışvahan serves Antep cooking inside a restored 16th-century han beneath Gaziantep Castle, which now works as a hotel, restaurant and shop in one.
OrderAnalı kızlı, the twin-dumpling soup, followed by the semolina halva.
TipDevelik is the dining room and Susamhane the event space. Ask for a courtyard table in spring.
Evirgeç Mantı Evi cooks the home food of Gaziantep on Atatürk Bulvarı, from hand-pinched mantı to yuvalama and pirpirim, with vegetarian plates too.
OrderAntep mantı under garlic yoghurt and paprika butter.
TipAsk what the daily pot holds before ordering. The menu is longer than the kitchen actually cooks.
Yuvalama 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.
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