All the woodfired pide, dukkah-crusted griddle meats and aromatic rose-accented desserts you could possibly need can be found during your quest to find the best Turkish restaurant Sydney has to offer.
To help, we’ve rounded up our favourite Sydney Turkish restaurants so you can zone in on the best and ignore the rest. And when it comes to Middle Eastern cuisines in Sydney, there are endless options – especially out West – and not all of them are worth a shot.
Turkish cuisine has been a tent pole for Sydney’s culinary diversity for decades now and is certainly one of the most beloved and sought-after of the many Middle Eastern cuisines you can find throughout the city.
Whether they are sticking close to the tight traditions of Ottomon cuisine or playing fiercely with modern interpretations, there are plenty of options when you’re looking for the best Turkish restaurant Sydney has to offer.
The distinctive flavours of authentic Turkish cuisine can be found all across the city, from casual favourites like Sahara Street Food and Konak Turkish Village to mainstays like Efendy and Anason – both highly prized Turkish restaurants from acclaimed Chef Sivrioglu.
Make sure you’re across this list before you head out and try to find your new favourite Turkish restaurant. Spoiler alert: most of them are in Newtown and Enmore.
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Our Picks For The Top Turkish Restaurants in Sydney
Efendy, Balmain
Balmain just wouldn’t be the same without legendary restaurant Efendy, an institution from Chef Somer Sivrioglu and often the first venue that comes to mind when asking locals for the best Turkish food in Sydney.
It’s best to head along for the dinner feast for the banquet menu, with generously sized kofte of the day dishes sitting alongside table-populating essentials like smoked eggplant baba with tahini and pistachio, Tilba haloumi with local rosemary honey, and of course, the quintessential hummus with crispy kabuli chickpeas and bush spiced dukkah.
You aren’t settling for Turkish pide here. Efendy is a bit more upscale with a lot more range, which makes it an easy favourite for birthday parties and work functions that want something a bit different to the typical best Italian restaurants or best French restaurants.
Do note that while Efendy is still in Balmain as of right now, a sale of the building the restaurant has been located in, for what seems like forever, has been sold. Efendy is now currently looking to move out of Balmain and we’ll update this listing as soon as we know where the popular restaurant will be moving to.
Address: 79 Elliott St, Balmain NSW 2041 (set to move address in near future)
Contact: (02) 9810 5466
Konak Turkish Village, Newtown
Always pay attention when the big players in Sydney’s Turkish restaurant scene come together for a new restaurant. Most recently that is Konak Turkish Kitchen, started up by Ceyda Selleck of Pasha’s, and Berkay Salur of Erciyes, but now under management by chef-owners Ali Kose and his wife Yagmur Benli.
With that kind of pedigree, Konak’s quality is unquestionable, tracking through dishes like wine leaves stuffed with garden herbs, chargrilled chicken wings with pide ekmek and pickles, and semolina fried squid with ezme salad and pickled herbs.
With Stanbuli now sadly shut, Konack Turkish Village is now the best Turkish restaurant in Newtown for anyone who appreciates the delicious food of the Ottomon empire.
Address: 496 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 7900 3668
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5 pm – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (5 pm – 10:30 pm); Sunday (5 pm – 10 pm)
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New Star, Auburn
It’s hard to stumble across a Turkish restaurant and not become a life-long fan when in Auburn – the food there is impeccable.
The Western Sydney suburb is home to many a quality Turkish restaurant but best of all would be New Star, a family-run kebab restaurant and local institution that’s been a favourite in Auburn for over two decades.
This isn’t exquisite food in a restaurant like you’d expect from something like Efendy, it’s rough, rustic and fast-paced street food over here.
Smokey charcoal sish kebabs are the best order at New Star, tenderised to perfection with a marinade that’s kept tight-lipped and is possibly the primary reason that this treasured institution is often referred to as the single best Turkish kebab store in New South Wales, bar none.
Another great Turkish kebab joint in Western Sydney can be found in Farfield – Beyti Kebab. Although that business seems to be temporarily closed.
Address: 15 Auburn Rd, Auburn NSW 2144
Contact: (02) 9643 8433
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (10 pm – 12 am); Friday – Saturday (10 am – 1 am)
Maydanoz, Sydney CBD
Maydanoz is the newest entry on this list of the best Turkish restaurants in Sydney and has already shot through as one of the smartest choices when you’re in Sydney CBD.
The same team behind Anason and Efendy have used Maydanoz to focus more tightly on the vegetarian side of Turkish cuisine, which is vibrant, varied and unique enough to tempt even the hardiest of meat-lovers to skew plant-based.
While there are some meat-based dishes, like sheep’s head soup and indulgences like salty halloumi skewers served with house made dips, what you’ll really want at Maydanoz are pops of the Aegean coastline like olive oil-infused zucchini, vegan coconut-yoghurt dip and fava bean puree with charred baby cauliflower.
Address: 1/50 Carrington St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9262 3161
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday (12 pm – 10 pm)
Pasha’s Restaurant, Newtown
Whether you want to take your taste buds to Istanbul or explore regionality through the Aegean Region, Pasha’s hold on traditionalism and densely packed flavour is your reliable captain.
The kitchen’s very affordable set menus are typically the best way to approach a group meal here, packed with the kind of variety and massive meze selection only the greatest Turkish restaurant feasts are made of.
Anything from the menu will do, from the vine leaves stuffed with wild white rice, fried black currants, dried bell peppers, olive oil and sumac, to the jumbo shrimps that have been sauteed with herb butter flambe and flavoured with aniseeds, garlic, basil and isot pepper.
The fantastic food on offer is another big tick for Newtown locals when it comes to Sydney’s best Turkish restaurants.
Address: 490-492 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9519 3139
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (5:30 pm – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (5:30 pm – 10:30 pm)
Ferah, Newtown
While Ferah Cafe is perfectly acceptable come dinner time, you’re better off taking this long-standing Newtown restaurant during the earlier hours of the day. Specifically, morning.
Their generous banquet-style Turkish breakfast for two, which is roughly $27 per person and nets you pretty much everything: egg with Turkish sausage, black and green marinated olives, various jams, a bunch of delicate Turkish cheeses, fresh pastries and fruits, Turkish bread and, of course, a pot of Turkish tea.
The constant glowing reviews aren’t wrong, citing this as one of the premier spots for Turkish breakfast in Sydney.
Address: 433A King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9550 3686
Opening Hours: (02) 9550 3686
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Anason, Barangaroo
When Chef Somer Sivrioglu was tapped to open one of the first waterside restaurants at the then-new Barangaroo precinct, he came up with Anason.
The distinctive blue glow from the diminutive restaurant is a slice of Efendy relocated, putting more of a focus on being a meze bar with – ideally – dozens of small plates taking up table space.
That’s the best approach here, with standouts including the plate of bamya with fried okra, fava bean puree, dill and garlic, from-the-ocean favourites like Fremantle octopus with antep ezme and chervil, and big, meaty dishes like a yogurtlu kebab filled with 72-hour wagyu tri-tip, Turkish croutons and iskender sauce.
Head to this Barangaroo essential during the later hours for a formidable dinner in a waterside location. It’s simply some of the best food you’ll find in the area with plenty of seasonal flair that tracks the authentic tastes of Turkey.
Address: 5/23 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9188 1581
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12 pm – 3 pm, 5 pm – 10 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 10 pm)
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Erciyes Restaurant, Surry Hills
A takeaway shop growing a full-blown 150-seat venue based purely off demand? Yeah, something delicious is obviously going down at this Surry Hills icon, which has been around for over two decades and is a top pick if you want a birthday party with belly dancers and amazing food.
The menu at Erciyes looks just like most other standard Turkish food joints you’d find dotted around Sydney’s most multicultural culinary hubs, but the quality here is damn near unparalleled for the inner-city
That’s why a typical doner kebab will taste above and beyond what you could expect from those typical late-night corner joints, but it’s often the vegetarian meze selection that turns heads here. Just try and resist some of that beautiful woodfired Turkish bread dipping into some perfectly mixed babagonush.
You just can’t go wrong with this trendy restaurant, which serves up good portions at very reasonable prices.
Address: 409 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9319 1309
The Sultan’s Table, Enmore
Sultan’s Table is one of the more popular choices for Ottomon food in New South Wales, with the festive atmosphere to match while most discerning diners go straight for the “Eat Like A Sultan” set menu.
The banquet menu is undoubtedly the best approach at The Sultan’s Table with $42 per person paid with Turkish bread, stuffed vegetables, Iskender kebabs, pide, mixed grill dishes, and sweet teas or coffee.
Address: 179 Enmore Rd, Enmore NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9557 0229
Turka, Crows Nest
Crows Nest may be better known for its spread of formidable sushi and ramen restaurants, but Turka waves the Turkish food flag nicely for the lower north shore suburb.
And it’s an all-day affair too, with supersized Turkish breakfasts during the early hours of the day – they were named ‘best breakfast in Sydney 2020’ by the Restaurant & Catering Awards – proudly pumped out of the kitchen, and meze plates crowding tables at night.
It’s worth strapping yourself in for a few visits to this venue as there’s a lot to get through, with freshly prepared, homemade recipes driving the brunt of offerings here.
The reviews are always excellent, which should tell you all you need to know about this dining experience and prime location – a must when you’re in the area and craving some good food.
Address: 4/6 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Contact: (02) 8592 1267
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (8:30 am – 9 pm); Friday – Sunday (8:30 am – 9:30 pm)
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Babylon Rooftop & Garden Bar, Sydney CBD
Located in Westfield Sydney, Babylon Rooftop & Garden Bar is a surprising oasis hidden amongst all those boutiques and the shopping centre’s standard food court. Head out to this open-air rooftop bar and you’ll find a rather mature, well-conceived fit-out with a bunch of private dining rooms offered alongside some genuinely comfortable outdoor spaces covered in greenery.
The beautiful design wouldn’t mean much if the food wasn’t on point, and fortunately Babylon Rooftop’s kitchen is quite reliable when it comes to pumping out some of the lighter sides of Turkish cuisine. Along with specialty cocktails and tap beer, Babylon’s menu runs the expected gamut of meze and more substantial, mostly meat-based Turkish dishes.
Don’t go expecting amazing food as you would with Efendy or Anason, but what you’ll get here is more than decent.
Address: Level 7/188 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8014 5663
Opening Hours: Monday (12 pm – 6 pm); Tuesday – Wednesday (12 pm – 11 pm); Thursday – Friday (12 pm – 12 am); Saturday (11:30 am – 12 am); Sunday (11:30 am – 10 pm)
Sahara Street Food, Kellyville
You’ll find one of three Sahara Street Food venues out in Kellyville, so not many people outside of the west seem to know about this hidden gem when it comes to Turkish food in Sydney. Also, consider the fact that it’s located in a shopping mall in The Ponds with another location in Mt Druitt, so you wouldn’t typically think something like this would be anything beyond average.
Chargrilled meats and Turkish pide are the essential orders here, all using halal meat with a strong dedication to authentic Turkish flavours to represent the Ottomon proudly, especially given Kellyville is sorely lacking when it comes to great places to eat.
Address: Shop 9, North Kellyville Village, 10 Hezlett Rd, Kellyville NSW 2155
Contact: (02) 8678 9992
Opening Hours: Sunday – Wednesday (10 am – 9 pm); Thursday – Saturday (10 am – 9:30 pm)
Taste of Turkey, Newtown
Here’s another favourite for Newtown locals and while Taste of Turkey may pale in comparison to Konak Turkish Village and Pasha’s Restaurant, this kitchen is still a great choice for the inner-west.
With everything halal and both vegas and vegetarians well catered for, Taste of Turkey gets over well with its wide-ranging menu that both manages to please all types of diners while still remaining focused and consistent.
Address: 88/90 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9565 5000
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (9 am – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (9 am – 11 pm)
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Best Turkish Restaurant Sydney – Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best Turkish restaurant in Sydney?
If you want to find the best Turkish restaurant in Sydney you’ll want to head straight for Efendy, then make a bee-line for Anason in Barangaroo, Newtown’s fantastic Konack Turkish Village and Crows Nest favourite Turka Cafe.
Where can I find the best Turkish breakfast in Sydney?
Turkish breakfast is an experience itself, so it’s well worth seeking out some of the best Turkish breakfasts in Sydney. You’ll find the best at Turka Cafe in Crows Nest.
Where is the best Turkish kebab in Sydney?
The best Turkish kabab in Sydney can be found at New Star in Auburn.
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