Throughout my life whenever I have told people I’m from Kyrgyzstan, I have encountered a mixed reaction of amusement and curiosity. Well, I guess for most people countries that end in –stan either connote Pakistan and Afghanistan only, or don’t elicit any associations at all. Meanwhile five –stans – Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – make up the region of Central Asia. And, fortunately, those who live in Istanbul can get to know it better by trying its cuisine, which is completely different from food we generally consider to be Asian.
Türk Dünyası Zinnet Restaurant is located in a historical park of Topkapı surrounded by the ancient Ottoman city walls. Before you go there, make sure you visit The Panorama 1453 Historical Museum and walk around the park’s beautiful green lawns and ponds.
Zinnet Restaurant offers not only Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek, and Turkmen food, but also Uyghur, Tatar, and Azeri, who altogether combine a large group of Turkic peoples. Turkic cuisine reflects the long and diverse history of the region. For example, you can try a genuinely nomadic dish beshbarmak – pieces of lamb mixed with dough and onions and served with meat broth (shorpo). It was eaten for centuries by Kazakh and Kyrgyz shepherds, who spent most of their time wandering in the mountains and had very little provisions; that’s why it’s a very simple, yet very delicious, dish.
Or take plov (a rice dish) and lagman (a noodle dish with meat and vegetables), which have been cooked since the days when the Silk Road routes went through Fergana Valley. Tradespeople from Asia and Europe used to spend the night in caravan palaces, prototypes of modern hostels. Leading more a sedentary lifestyle and being exposed to various cultures, Uzbeks and Uyghurs added vegetables, rice, and spices to their food.
You will be surprised by Central Asian mantı – dumplings stuffed with minced meat, potatoes, and onions – as they differ from local Turkish mantı. Other things worth to try is Samsa and Nan, bread baked in a special clay oven tandır. To finish your meal you should order very hot tea and drink it from small cups without handles called piala.
In general, I enjoyed Zinnet Restaurant very much because it reminded me of home. I would recommend it to anyone who loves discovering little-known cultures and seeking new food experiences, as well as to all Central Asians living in Istanbul who are looking for some tastes of home.
Türk Dünyası Zinnet Restaurant is located at Maltepe Mh. Topkapı Kültür Parkı, Türk Dünyası Kültür Evleri No:6. The best way to get there is to go by the T1 tramway to Topkapı station.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February of 2014. It was updated for relevance on December of 2018.
