Aksaray has an ancient culinary culture, having been a crossroads of civilizations for centuries. Its historical sites, underground cities, unique rock carvings, healing soda lakes, thermal waters, and geographically marked restaurants in the world of gastronomy attract not only domestic tourism but also foreign tourists from all over the world. Aksaray’s famous restaurants, the most preferred eateries and menus will be introduced in this article.
Aksaray’s Best Restaurants
Everyone who visits Aksaray wants to taste the local flavors of the region after their tourist itinerary. We researched the most preferred Aksaray restaurants for you. We have compiled a list of the best restaurants and cafes in Aksaray that are frequently preferred by both tourists and the local people of Aksaray.
- KMU Kardeşler Mehmet Usta
Located in the center of Aksaray, the KMU Mehmet Usta Etli Ekmek restaurant has an extensive menu. The first thing that stands out is that it has high standards in terms of cleanliness and hygiene among Aksaray restaurants. The environment is so spacious and airy that, combined with the warm welcome from the staff, you feel special from the moment you walk in.
Whatever you order, they first set the table with a variety of local delicacies. Moreover, all of these delicacies consist of tasting presentations that the local people of Aksaray prefer to make on special days such as weddings and other celebrations. Therefore, it is a unique opportunity to get to know Aksaray’s food culture.
Interestingly, there are fiery and different presentations brought to the table. We encountered such a presentation for the first time among Aksaray restaurant businesses. The fact that they show that eating is not just about filling your stomach, but a way of life, and that they create a festive atmosphere, is proof of how dedicated the owners are to their profession.
Aksaray meat restaurants KMU Kardeşler, which is the first to come to mind, is likely to become a world-renowned culinary destination in the coming years thanks to its chefs’ modern take on traditional flavors. Each plate is like a special recipe from the skilled hands of the head chefs.
Let’s move on to the menu; it is rich, ranging from grilled dishes to pide varieties, kebabs to local delicacies, soups to desserts. Aksaray restaurant offers a wide range of flavors.
Grilled items include:
- Chops,
- Skewered Meat,
- Lamb Lokum,
- Mehmet Usta Special Kebab,
- Adana Kebab,
- Urfa Kebab,
- Chicken Skewers,
- Beyti Kebab,
- Beef Sirloin (Spiced Sirloin),
- Beef Chops,
- Mixed Grill,
- Mangal Burger,
- Mangal Burger Menu,
- Skewered Meatballs,
- Grilled Meatballs,
- Chicken Wings,
- Eggplant Kebab.
Meat varieties include:
- Konya Oven Kebab,
- Skewered Steak,
- Lamb Skewers,
- Lamb Küşleme.
Tirit holds an important place in Aksaray’s traditional culinary culture. In addition, the menu includes Testi Kebab, Lamb Neck, Steak Cuts, Lamb Satır (for 3 people), T. Done, Lamb Ribs with Bone, Beef Ribs (for 2 people), Steak Dallas, Beef Lokum, Lamb Cage, Rozbif (Mehmet Usta).
As for pide varieties, the meat bread is highly rated by guests. Other pide options include Cheese Börek, Plain Oregano, Mixed Konya Börek, and Bıçak Arası. Those wondering, “What dish is Aksaray famous for?” can undoubtedly try Bıçak Arası and meat bread, which are the most popular flavors among guests.
Appetizers include Garlic Bowl, Mushroom Cheese, Rice Pilaf, Crispy Chicken, Chips, Stuffed Meatballs, Bulgur Pilaf, and Lamb Yogurt.
Soups include Beyran Soup, Bone Marrow Soup, and Lentil Soup.
The best desserts are undoubtedly künefe and saç arası. Other options include rice pudding, pistachio kadayıf, and pistachio sarma. What to eat in Aksaray? Definitely pistachio künefe, pistachio saç arası, and walnut saç arası.
KMU Kardeşler Mehmet Usta, Aksaray Restaurant, satisfies those who are passionate about flavor and enjoy trying different tastes.
- Aksaray Teacher’s House Restaurant
Aksaray Teacher’s House Restaurant offers more affordable prices for teachers and public officials, but it is open to the public, and all citizens can benefit from these restaurants by paying a higher price. Aksaray restaurant is reasonably priced.
The Aksaray restaurant menu includes tarhana soup, yayla soup, green lentil soup, red lentil soup, kavurma, oven-baked meatballs, fried meat, chicken chops, rice pilaf, and bulgur pilaf.
The Aksaray Teachers’ House Restaurant, tea garden, and cafeteria have a capacity to serve approximately 150 people. Breakfast and reservation-based meal services are available. The meals are prepared by our skilled chefs and presented to our guests. If you are wondering what Aksaray is famous for in terms of food, you can find various types of dishes unique to the region at Aksaray Teachers’ House.
- Aksaray Police House Local and Restaurant
The Aksaray Police House Restaurant consists of two sections. It serves a total of 200 people with a 150-person restaurant section and a 50-person family lounge. Meals are served between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Outside these hours, no service is provided in the police house restaurant section.
A daily three-course meal service is offered. As the Aksaray restaurant, it generally serves daily home-style meals, vegetable dishes, and on certain days of the week, meat, fish, and chicken dishes.
- Aksaray Bar Association Restaurant
In addition to daily meals, the Aksaray Bar Association Restaurant hosts special occasions and celebrations. This Aksaray restaurant, preferred by lawyers and legal professionals, is open to the public with advance reservations.
The menu includes Schnitzel, Eggplant Beğendi, Marinated Grilled Fillet, Grilled Fillet Slices, Chops, Lamb Skewers, Lamb Leg, Lamb Külbastı, Grilled Milk-Fed Lamb Slices, Meatballs, Chicken Chops, Lamb Chops, Lamb Skewers, and Lokum Fillet. Fish varieties include sea bass, sea bream, and salmon.
Aksaray Food Culture
Aksaray has a very rich culinary culture and variety of foods. When it comes to culinary culture, the first thing that comes to mind is the corner preparation stage. At home, women prepare foods such as flatbread, pickles, noodles, cheese, grape products, preserves, dried foods, nuts, tomato paste, bulgur, tarhana, and jam.
İmece is an important culture in Aksaray. Winter food preparations are made together among neighbors, which provides a great deal of convenience. At weddings, funerals, or collective ceremonies and customs, all meals are prepared together using the İmece method.
For Aksaray’s famous dish, tirit, meat with bones is boiled. Boiling it for a long time increases the benefits from the marrow. Winter flatbread is broken into pieces and spread out on a large griddle or tray. The boiled meat broth is poured over the flatbread to soak it sufficiently. It is served with spices and chili flakes according to preference. Traditionally made at home, you can find it today in Aksaray restaurants.
What to Eat in Aksaray?
Aksaray’s sophisticated palate begins with its soup culture. Traditional soups include tarhana soup, okra soup, yogurt soup, Oğma soup, wedding soup, and milk soup.
Traditional dishes include noodle dishes, stuffed dumplings, onion stew, potato dishes, dumplings, tirit, meatballs, saç böreği, tepsi böreği, kapama, keşkek, meat and bulgur pilaf, meat and dried beans, chickpeas, stuffed grape leaves, and stuffed cabbage. Popular desserts include kalburabastı, molasses porridge, yarma sütlacı, milk pudding, sırçan dessert, künefe, and saç arası.
You can choose an Aksaray restaurant based on your taste and expectations. Bon appetit and good health.