Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta
A historic meatball shop in the Old City founded in 1920, featuring a streamlined menu with signature grilled meatballs and white bean salad, right near the Blue Mosque.
Founded in 1920 and now run by the fourth generation of the founding family, located at 12 Divan Yolu Street in the Old City. The menu is very short, focusing on flat, chewy grilled meatballs (köfte), classically paired with a white bean and onion salad (piyaz), as well as lentil soup and semolina halva. It is often crowded during peak dining hours, but table turnover is fast; you can beat the rush by arriving around 11:30 or after 14:30. There are similar shop names nearby, so look for the "1920" mark. The takeout price for meatballs is about 580 TL, while dine-in prices are subject to the menu in-store; some sources state they only accept cash, so it is recommended to bring some cash.
Opening hours
Daily approx. 10:30–22:30 (sources vary slightly, subject to the shop)
Nearby sights
- Basilica Cistern
- Hippodrome of Constantinople
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Hagia Irene
- Gülhane Park
- Istanbul Archaeology Museums