Travel video guide
Best Lamb Doner Kebab in İstanbul: All 6 Spots + Addresses
This guide turns DEVAMI GELSİN Mİ? 😊 #shorts #döner #yemek from Ayhan Mortepe into a practical restaurant map with 6 saved spots around Başakşehir, Beykoz, and Kadıköy. The mapped places include a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Ayhan Mortepe embarked on an extensive tour of Istanbul's best doner shops, specifically seeking out high-quality lamb and beef varieties. He highlighted the unique textures of each location, ranging from the soft, spice-free meat at Metet to the juicy, thick-cut portions at Ağababa. His journey emphasized finding the perfect balance of fat and meat quality across the city's most famous establishments.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in Başakşehir.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 6 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Vedat Usta Döner & Kebap İstanbul
Restaurant in Pınar, Katar Cd, Teras Katı, Pınar, İstinye Park AVM No:11 Kat:1, 34460 Sarıyer/İstanbul, Türkiye, Pınar, Sarıyer, İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Bayramoğlu Döner
Turkish Restaurant in Rüzgarlıbahçe, Cumhuriyet Cd. No:2, 34805 Beykoz/İstanbul, Türkiye, Rüzgarlıbahçe, Beykoz, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Heybet Döner Lokantası Bahçeşehir
Turkish Restaurant in Bahçeşehir 2. Kısım, Avni Akyol Blv., 34488 Başakşehir/İstanbul, Türkiye, Bahçeşehir 2. Kısım, Başakşehir, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Moderate
Hours: Hours available - Metet Közde Döner, Kuzguncuk
Turkish Restaurant in Kuzguncuk, İcadiye Cd. No:39, 34674 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Türkiye, Kuzguncuk, Üsküdar, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Ağababa Döner & Yemek Restaurant
Restaurant in Dudullu Esenşehir Mah. Natoyolu Cad. No:229, Ümraniye İST, İmes, Esenşehir, Karşısı B Kapısı, 34776 Ümraniye/İstanbul, Türkiye, Esenşehir, Ümraniye, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Moderate
Hours: Hours available - Tatar Salim
Restaurant in Caferağa, İmamata Sk. No:7 D:3, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye, Caferağa, Kadıköy, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Moderate
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Lamb doner kebab
- Metet doner
- Tatar Salim doner
- Ağababa doner
- Bayramoğlu doner
- Heybet doner
Experiences captured
- Visited Vedat Usta in Cennet Mahallesi
- Tasted 70 percent lamb meat doner
- Visited Metet in Kuzguncuk
- Tried Tatar Salim's meat-heavy doner
- Visited Ağababa Doner for juicy meat
- Waited in a long line at Bayramoğlu Kavacık
- Visited Heybet Döner in Bahçeşehir Gölet
- Toured 10 different doner shops in Istanbul
Planning notes for Kadıköy
Caferağa is a central neighborhood within the Kadıköy district on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Historically, the area corresponds to the ancient settlement of Chalcedon, established circa 675 BCE. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the land was administered by Hıdır Bey, the first Ottoman judge (Kadı) of the city.
Must-try foods nearby
- Southeastern Anatolian Regional Dishes (Çiya Sofrası)
An essential culinary pilgrimage in Caferağa, this spot (made world-famous by Chef's Table) serves forgotten regional recipes like 'Perde Pilavı' and seasonal stews. - Lahmacun at Halil Lahmacun
A true Kadıköy institution. Locals swear by this thin, crispy Turkish pizza topped with a perfectly spiced minced meat mixture. - Modern Dürüm (Basta Street Food Bar)
A 2026 favorite that redefined street food in Moda. Created by fine-dining chefs, these wraps feature high-quality ingredients like slow-cooked beef rib, smoked yogurt. - Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)
An iconic street food staple found at vendors throughout the Kadıköy Market area. These mussels are stuffed with aromatic herbed rice, currants, and pine nuts. - Kup Griye at Baylan Pastanesi
A historic dessert from one of Istanbul’s oldest patisseries. This decadent treat consists of vanilla and caramel ice cream topped with whipped cream, honey-roasted almonds.
When to go: The best time to visit Caferağa is during late spring (May to June) or early autumn (September to October).
Local tips
- Use the public ferry or the Marmaray train to commute between Caferağa and the European side to avoid heavy bridge traffic.
- Always carry an Istanbulkart for seamless access to the neighborhood's extensive network of buses, trams, and ferries.
- Accepting a small glass of tea when offered in local shops is a standard sign of respect and hospitality in the district.
- Round up your bill or leave a small cash tip of 5-10% at sit-down restaurants, though it is not expected at casual street food stalls.
What travelers are noticing
- Terminal Kadıköy: A brand-new large-scale food hall that has recently opened near the ferry pier, becoming a central hub for diverse local street food and social gatherings.
- International Kadıköy Dance and Music Festival: A major cultural event taking place in July 2026, featuring street performances and competitions across municipality stages in the district.
- Fenerbahçe Match Day Atmosphere: Viral 'match night' energy where the neighborhood's streets and restaurants transform into massive fan zones with giant screens and chanting crowds.
Official tourism resource
The official tourism portal for Istanbul, providing comprehensive travel guides, cultural highlights, and visitor information for all districts, including Başakşehir.
Planning questions
Where did Ayhan Mortepe eat in İstanbul?
This guide maps all 6 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in İstanbul.
What are the must-try foods in İstanbul?
Creator picks from the video include Lamb doner kebab, Metet doner, Tatar Salim doner, Ağababa doner. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.