Turkish breakfast delight - Cafe Sabich

Back in october 2022, we ventured in Kontula to try a Syrian restaurant (see message below "Real Deal"). After that lunch, while strolling among the many ethnic restaurants, cafe and shops in the subway area, we did notice a turkish cafe -  "Cafe Sabich", who looked particulary interesting because 1. it was full of customers, which is always a good sign, and 2. because it does turkish breakfast. So, a few weeks ago, we decided to have a go and try it. For 9,50€ you get an omelette with turkish spicy sausage, turkish yogurt seasoned with spices, 3 different kind of cheeses, boiled egg, turkish cold cuts (beef salami & chicken kinda mortadella), tomatoes, cucumber, olives, butter, jams, turkish bread and tea. We did finnish the breakfast with a strong turkish coffee. At that price, you get an incredible value for money as the meal was full of flavors with fresh ingredients, a very friendly service and a super clean place. Easily on par with most breakfast you can find in city center and/or hotels, and at a fraction of a price. One last thing, they do breakfast all day long!

Real deal - Restaurant Tikke

We never go to Kontula as we have no business there. Sometimes when shopping in Itis mall, we venture outside to Puhos to buy middle eastern food, or eat in the many Syrian/Iraki/Turkish restaurants around. And that's all. Back in October, we were tipped by a friend about a restaurant near the Kontula metro station, as being probably one of the very best Syrian/Iraki grill house in town. Restaurant "Tikke" is less than 100m away from the metro exit, in what can be described as not the best looking area. The place itself is quite small - less than 10 tables. The interior is not specially good looking, with tables and chairs showing lots of wears and tears and not super clean. BUT, if you're brave enough and overlook all the flaws, you're in for a real treat. The food - mainly char-grilled meat on skewer - is to die for, at a price so ridiculous that it's almost on par with a meal at Burger King or Taco Bell (avoid the later like the plague as it's a pale imitation of what you can find in the US of A). They even baked flat bread in front of us the day we were there. As a sure sign of quality and authenticity, 99,99% of the customers were middle eastern people and families. So, if for you the food is more important than the setting, have a go and try restaurant Tikke. It's really that good. Real deal.

Taboule, hummus, spicy sauce & preserved peppers (as well as soup and tea) are included in the price.

And everything is homemade, including the bread.

2 types of skewers: spicy minced beef and marinated chicken, served on a bed of flat bread, with char-grilled tomatoes, chopped onions, fresh coriander and pieces of lemon. For around 12€/pers.

Turkish delight

 

When in the Puhos shopping center area, we visit regularly middle-eastern grocery "Alanya", where one can find all kind of products and ingredients from Turkey, Irak, Syria, Lebanon, and some other countries. Last time we were there, we found this turkish spice mix ideal for meat, döner, and above all for "kofte".

These turkish kokftes are made with minced lamb, chopped onions, a bit of  bred crumbs, a generous amount of "Et Baharati Tuzlu", chopped fresh coriander & parsley, ground cayenne for a bit of heat, a few drops of lemon juice and salt. When all ingredients are mixed together, the meat paste is put to rest in the fridge for a couple of hours. Koftes can be cooked on char grill which is the traditional way, or in a pan. We chose the 2nd option. The koftes are served the french way - yes it's possible: with fries. When sold in the Paris streets, they are stuffed in a half baguette with fries and spicy sauce on top (and the same goes for shawarma, döner kebab, gyros or merguez sausages). Absolute street food delish.

While in Puhos, we took the opportunity to make a stop at kurdish restaurant Kirkuk to buy a chicken shawarma to bring home. We've been a few times there, and their char grilled meat and skewers are quite tasty.

To go along, we had sliced tomatoes & onions, harissa sauce (which is not from Turkey but what the hell), fresh libanese hummus from Alanya (and it's made on site in the grocery itself) and pieces of lemon. Flat bread from an iraki bakery, and a few beers completed the meal. Yummi.