When it comes to mantı (Turkish dumplings), recommending a favourite place is a sensitive and very personal matter for any Turk living in Istanbul.
The city has dozens of excellent options, each with decades of history and its own loyal fans. For me, my family and close friends there is only one clear answer for the best mantı: Aşkana Mantı. Opened in 1987, it is always the first place I visit when I travel to Istanbul.
As at every mantı restaurant in Türkiye, Aşkana serves dumplings filled with minced meat, topped with creamy strained yoghurt and a delicious butter-tomato sauce. You can choose between fried mantı and boiled mantı (I recommend trying boiled the first time, but fried is always a great choice too — order an extra plate to share at the table).
Another favourite spot is Emek Mantı Evi (Emek’s House of Mantı), where you can order a mixed plate: half boiled, half fried — the best of both worlds.
