Hünkar (restaurant)

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Hünkar is a notable restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey, founded initially back in 1950 in Fatih and moved in 2000 to Nişantaşı, an upscale living and shopping neighborhood. At the same time, a branch was also opened in Etiler, another upscale quarter. The restaurants are owned and run by restaurateurs Talip Ügümü and his three sons Feridun, Galip and Faruk.^[1] In 2007, Hünkar was chosen 99th of the world's 100 top restaurants by the Restaurant magazine.^[2]

Named after the Ottoman word "Hünkar" for sovereign or sultan, the traditional institution specializes in typical Ottoman-Turkish cuisine. The restaurant's specialty "Hünkar Beğendi" (literally: admired by the sultan), a traditional dish prepared of crunchy lamb on a bed of mashed eggplants,^[3] associates the establishment's name as well.

The kitchen in Nişantaşı, run by the executive chef Feridun Ügümü, offers around 30 to 35 different fresh dishes cooked daily using the seasonal vegetables and fish. The stew pan warm dishes are displayed at the counter in front of the kitchen, where customers can choose their dishes right at arrival. The dishes are specialties from not only Istanbul and Anatolia but also from Cyprus, Greece, Circassia and Armenia as well.^[1]