Turkish Chefs – Turkish food guides

Mehmet Yalçınkaya: the Bolu-born chef behind MYK, Alaz and MasterChef Türkiye

Bolu-born chef, MasterChef Türkiye judge since 2018 and early champion of fusion cooking in Turkey, with restaurants in Istanbul and Ankara.

Osman Sezener: the İzmir chef behind Michelin-starred OD Urla and Kitchen

The İzmir chef whose farm restaurant OD Urla and Bodrum restaurant Kitchen both hold a MICHELIN star, with a Green Star for OD Urla.

Nusret Gökçe: the butcher behind Nusr-Et and the ‘Salt Bae’ phenomenon

From a butcher's apprentice in Kadıköy to a viral video in 2017, Nusret Gökçe built Nusr-Et into a steakhouse brand with branches from Istanbul to Knightsbridge.

Selin Kiazim: the London chef behind Oklava and modern Turkish Cypriot cooking

Born in Southgate to Turkish Cypriot parents, Selin Kiazim opened Oklava in Shoreditch in 2015 and helped show London what modern Turkish cooking could be.

Hüseyin Özer: the founder of Sofra and a London Turkish restaurant pioneer

From a village in Tokat to a döner shop in Mayfair, Hüseyin Özer built Sofra into one of London's longest-running Turkish restaurant groups.

Didem Şenol: the chef behind Lokanta Maya in Karaköy

New York-trained Didem Şenol opened Lokanta Maya in Karaköy in 2010, cooking seasonal Aegean small plates from carefully sourced Turkish produce.

Ebru Baybara Demir: the Mardin chef who won the Basque Culinary World Prize

The Mardin chef who trains local and refugee women, revived an ancient wheat and in 2023 became the first Turkish woman to win the Basque Culinary World Prize.

Arda Türkmen: the TV cook and restaurateur behind Arda’nın Mutfağı

From concerts and catering to Istanbul restaurants and 17 seasons of Arda’nın Mutfağı, the story of one of Turkey’s TV cooks and the home recipes he is known for.

Mehmet Gürs: the chef behind Mikla and the New Anatolian Kitchen

Born in Finland and raised largely in Scandinavia, Mehmet Gürs built Mikla into one of Istanbul's defining restaurants and championed New Anatolian cooking.

Turkish Chefs: Turkish food guides