Börek is anything tasty wrapped in pastry, a treat that is totally toothy

Mysterious deliciousness enveloped in thinly rolled sheets of phyllo dough make up börek. And with the first bite you've arrived at your happy place. Now, pastry plus stuffing could be the description for a patty or a quiche or some other commonplace snack. But if you’ve had börek, you know that it's practically a point of pilgrimage. It’s not some snack, it is a culinary experience that should be on every Turkish itinerary.

My first börek in Istanbul was pressed on me by my local hosts. We went to one of the best known places in Istanbul: Börekçe Ev on Ortaklar Cad at Mecidiyeköy (two stations from Taksim). It was a quaint bakery with a few tables scattered about. An elderly man stepped out of the establishment to ask us to wait since the börek wasn't yet out of the oven.


Soon, he was slicing giant triangles from a pan bigger than the table. Then each slice was further dissected into finger food portions . Crispy and gooey at the same time, the first bite was an experience I relive when life gets me down. This particular börek with spicy mashed meat made the world seem a better place.

Here are the best places in Istanbul to be introduced to your first magical börek moment:

Rumeli: Peykhane Caddesi 41/5 (3 blocks from the Hippodrome using Üçler Sokak), Sultanahmet, Telephone: 212-516-4880

Çiğdem Pastanesi: Divanyolu Cad., No: 62/A, İstanbul , Telephone: 0212-5268859

Karakoy Gulluoglu: Mumhane Cad. No:171 Karakoy, Istanbul, Telephone: 90-212-293-09-10