Creamy short-grain rice pudding finished under a hot grill so the top sets into a scorched, freckled skin. Served chilled in shallow clay bowls with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Sutlac has been on Istanbul muhallebici menus since the late Ottoman period, when cold milk-puddings became the city's standard dessert in the long evenings between dinner and tea. The version baked in a clay bowl under a fierce top heat, leaving a black-spotted skin, is the Istanbul signature; lighter unfired versions belong to other Turkish cities.
3 editor picks for Sütlaç (Turkish baked rice pudding) in Istanbul, ranked by editorial score. All Istanbul signature dishes · Sütlaç (Turkish baked rice pudding) across every city.
Karaköy Lokantası ★ 4.5
karaköy · Kemankeş Mah., Kemankeş Caddesi No:57, 34425 Beyoğlu, İstanbul
The teal-tiled Karaköy Lokantası, Bib Gourmand listed in the Michelin Guide, runs an Ottoman-leaning lunch lokanta downstairs and a meyhane upstairs at night.
Hayvore ★ 4.4
beyoğlu · Turnacıbaşı Sokak No:4, 34433 Beyoğlu, İstanbul
Hayvore tucked off Istiklal, cooking the corn-bread, anchovies and smoky bean stews of the Black Sea since 2009 in a noisy steam-table lokanta close.
Saray Muhallebicisi ★ 4.2
beyoğlu · Kuloğlu Mah., İstiklal Caddesi No:107, 34433 Beyoğlu, İstanbul
Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal, the 1935 muhallebici pulling chicken-breast pudding, kazandibi and milk-pudding bowls into the small hours.