Is there a Turkish restaurant in Melbourne that you can recommend? There is a plethora of excellent options, and we have compiled a shortlist of some of the best.
Whether you're in the mood for authentic Turkish cuisine or a more modern spin, you'll find what you're looking for on the menu. Tonight, why don't you book a table at a top-notch Turkish restaurant? Enjoy!
Best Turkish Restaurants in Melbourne
Here is a list of the top-rated Turkish eateries in Melbourne. To help you find the best Turkish restaurants close to your home in Melbourne, we've compiled this list using the rating points list.
Nomad Melbourne
187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Once only available in Sydney, the popular Mediterranean eatery Nomad has finally arrived in Melbourne, replacing the defunct CBD staple Ezard. The new Nomad South can be found in the Adelphi Hotel's basement. The owners, Rebecca and Al Yazbek, have stayed true to the original eatery's vibe while championing a new menu stocked with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Nomad Melbourne's signature dish is the result of close collaboration between Jacqui Challinor, the restaurant's famed executive chef, and Brendan Katich, the kitchen's recently appointed head chef (Gingerboy, Ezard). Fans can expect to see only a handful of menu mainstays, with new dishes filling in the gaps, and with a heavy emphasis on locally sourced meat and vegetables grilled over open flames.
The menu features items like dry-aged pork cutlet paired with a salsa of golden raisins and capers and baked jersey milk ricotta with Ortiz anchovies and fire-roasted peppers. All of these dishes are showstoppers, without exception.
For $95 per person, you can enjoy a feast consisting of nine different dishes to share.
The wine list is extensive and features many Victorian wines and those from other smaller producers who work hard to support their local community. Customers will have the chance to try different wines on every visit thanks to a large pouring list that is always being refreshed and is made up entirely of Australian selections. Coravin will be used to serve high-end concoctions.
Industry Beans Fitzroy
70-76 Westgarth Street, Fitzroy
It has been eight years since Trevor and Steve Simmons first opened their coffee roastery and cafe, Industry Beans, in the backstreets of Fitzroy. It would rapidly become an iconic fixture of Australia's coffee culture, eventually expanding to six locations in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. One of the most momentous changes in the company's history will occur in 2021, when it moves from its current location in the northside to a more impressive one just around the corner, accessible via Westgarth Street.
The new location, set to open in July, will feature a larger dining area, an onsite coffee roastery, and a dedicated retail space, among other amenities, thanks to its larger footprint. Although specifics of the cafe's design have yet to be revealed, customers can expect a mix of Industry Beans' signature style with some fresh, modern touches.
As this business and its related businesses prepare for the coming winter season, the menu will most likely undergo some changes as well. The ever-evolving lineup will feature both perennial fan favourites and brand-new seasonal creations to complement the roaster's stellar rotation of caffeinated delights. These are a nice complement to the coffee.
Kickin Inn Port Melbourne
309 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
If you've always thought that seafood was best enjoyed during the warmer months of the year, the newest restaurant in Port Melbourne might change your mind. Kickin' Inn, an Australian chain with eight locations in New South Wales, has opened its first Melbourne restaurant.
The Kickin' Inn, which recently opened in the space occupied by the Rose Hotel, offers a signature dish of seafood tossed in flavorful "Kajun" sauces made from scratch and is sure to cure any remaining winter blues.
If you haven't heard of Kickin' Inn, it's a restaurant that encourages its customers to get their hands dirty while eating. At this restaurant, patrons use only the fingers, thumbs, and forefingers
Squid tentacles in batter, jalapeno cheese bites ($19 each), freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters ($18 to $28 each), and wings are just a few of the appetisers available at this restaurant (which cost 29 dollars each).
On the other hand, the lunch menu features items such as prawn spaghetti ($24) and a mini mixed bag of seafood served with rice that are more appropriate for single diners (which also costs 24 dollars).
Marko
Market, South Melbourne
The newest Southside casual eatery is on the doorstep of the South Melbourne Market, and its dishes feature an abundance of vegetables. Marko is relaxing, returning to his roots, and preparing a tasty, entirely plant-based meal.
Founder and former CEO of Belles Hot Chicken and 100 Burgers Group, Dehne Bingham has extensive experience in the restaurant business. The primary goal of the restaurant is to serve food that is good for the local community, the environment, and the diners themselves.
Nabin Shrestha (Rumi, Vegie Bar) is plating a vegan and vegetarian lunch menu at this time. Chef Charley Snadden-Wilson, an advocate for vegetarian cuisine, crafted the menu (Ramblr, Etta, Embla).
Ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, seasonality is taken into account, and, of course, no artificial preservatives or other undesirable ingredients are used. Marko is serious about food, but he knows how to have a good time in the kitchen as evidenced by his extensive menu of inventive and colourful dishes.
All of the burgers on the $12-$15 price range can be made with gluten-free buns and toppings if requested by the customer. Burgers like the spicy cauliflower number, which comes with jalapenos and chipotle mayo, and the signature Marko cheeseburger, which is layered with coconut cheese and a plant-based patty, are available.
Sides like corn ribs topped with chilli for $8 and crispy chips finished with your choice of house seasoning are also available at Marko, as are a selection of colourful vegetable bowls for $13 to $15. Choose from three meal combinations ranging in price from $23 to $26 and round out your order with chips, dip, and a Capi soda to go with your burger or pita. There is a rotating selection of craft beers, natural wines, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as options for caffeinated beverages brought down from a nearby coffee window called Clement.
Even beyond the vegetarian options on the menu, the company operates with an eye towards minimising its impact on the environment. Marko reuses and recycles all of its packaging, employs a novel approach to recycling food scraps, and runs its kitchen in part on renewable energy.
Pasta Poetry
86 Station Street, Fairfield
As the cold winter weather of Melbourne sets in, so does the desire for hearty, comforting meals. For example, platters of freshly made pasta doused in a sauce that would make Nonna proud. However, if you don't have the time or energy to learn the ins and outs of homemade pasta making, Fairfield's brand new Pasta Poetry will be your culinary saviour. To save your taste buds, pick up a box of Fairfield's Pasta Poetry.
Theo Krambias (CH James), a seasoned veteran of Melbourne's hospitality industry, conceived of Pasta Poetry as an ode to the many facets of the art of making pasta. The upscale pasta boutique has opened, and the adjoining restaurant will follow later this year.
If the vast array of pastas and sauces seems overwhelming on pasta night, the helpful staff is there to guide you to culinary heights through the artful application of substitutions and additions. The market sells traditional tiramisu for two people, garlic bread baked fresh every day, and two different kinds of ready-to-heat lasagne. To complement the pasta, guests can choose from a wide range of extras, including cheeses, herbs, and wine.
In preparation for the summer of 2021–2022, Pasta Poetry has opened a brand new outdoor courtyard. Guests can unwind here with antipasto plates, homemade pasta, and cocktails with a light, refreshing taste, perfect for the warm weather. Additionally, a central bocce court is available for those who wish to compete in friendly games. After 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays during the summer, the courtyard is open to the public.
Vesper
23-25 Toorak Road, South Yarra
If you can't get your hands on the real thing just yet, head to Vesper, a bar and restaurant in South Yarra, and they'll give you a pretty close approximation. Since opening its doors at the end of January 2021, this restaurant has been taking diners to the glistening islands of the Mediterranean with the help of a seafood-Harvey menu infused with a variety of flavours from those countries.
Italy's Francesco Castellana is the head chef; he's previously cooked at acclaimed establishments like New York's Per Se and New Orleans' Vue de Monde. Elegant dishes like almond gazpacho with olive oil-poached mackerel (a $25 dish) and Sardinian-style fregol with pecorino and saffron-braised abalone (a $33 dish) are being prepared to satisfy guests' wanderlust.
The raw bar offers a wide variety of tasty bites, such as the house-cured swordfish topped with pickled grape and baby fennel ($19.50) or the marinated vegetables paired with a buffalo yoghurt tzatziki ($15). Red snapper fillet with preserved lemon salmoriglio, caper purée, and mashed potatoes costs $36.50. Meanwhile, for the same price of $39.50, you can order the pistachio and mustard crusted lamb cutlet, which comes with artichoke skordalia.
Le Bajo Milkbar
8-14 Howard Street, North Melbourne
Because of his extensive time spent travelling back and forth between Jakarta and Melbourne over the course of several years, Le Bajo's founder and owner, Jason Gunawan, grew quite fond of Australian culture. After successfully co-managing the famed Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, he was ready to start his next business venture before the pandemic hit.
Flores, an Indonesian island known for its Komodo dragon population and its diverse marine life, including manta rays and turtles, was supposed to be the site of the opening of a new city called Labuan Bajo. Gunawan was adamant that the nearly nine months of planning that had gone into the project would not be wasted, even though the delay meant that the project would begin even later than originally anticipated. He decided to move the concept, at least in part, to North Melbourne, where it could live in a large garage alongside a number of classic Mercedes and Porsche automobiles.
To help open Le Bajo, Gunawan contacted 279's owner, Kantaro Okada. He needed the help of his northside neighbours and his friends in the hospitality industry. Thanks to the citywide lockdown, the team was able to come up with a concept and begin searching for old pieces of farm and general store furniture that had been stockpiled during Melbourne's fourth lockdown.
Wooden surfaces, furniture, and storage containers were given a new lease on life. Gunawan, saddened by the disappearance of Australia's milk bars, seized the chance to transform Le Bajo into a nostalgic gathering spot for Australians abroad.
Authentic hand-painted signs, lamps, and ornaments from second-hand shops create a warm and inviting atmosphere in this cafe. The addition of greenery has completely transformed this once-industrial space into a cosy home.
Le Bajo serves authentic Japanese cuisine, with some dishes that are reminiscent of Australian standards like milkshakes and milk coffees. They also make their own shokunin bread, a popular fluffy milk bread that is cut thick for sandos and toast, and roast their own coffee beans ($16 per loaf).
One of the most sought-after items at this restaurant is the $7 fruit sando. It's a cloud-shaped sandwich, with a triangle of fresh fruit and whipped cream on one side and two cloud-shaped slices of bread on the other.
The majority of the staff at Le Bajo are from the city of Nagoya, in the Chubu region of Japan, and the city is responsible for popularising the traditional Japanese breakfast known as the morning set. For a full meal, Gunawan suggests this dish.
In addition to the brewed coffee, toast, potato salad, a boiled egg, yoghurt with homemade jam, and a boiled egg are included in this set, as Gunawan explains. All of those things are included in "this set." You can arrange the ingredients on the plate however you like, as it offers a sweet and savoury flavour profile.
FAQs About Melbourne Restaurants
Tulum Restaurant is a favourite place for TheFork users. This 9.4 rated restaurant is located in Melbourne (VIC) and would be an excellent choice for your next meal. Pinarbasi Restaurant and Lezzet are also some of the more popular Turkish restaurants in Melbourne (VIC), according to reviews from our users.
Some of the more popular Turkish restaurants in Port Phillip, according to TheFork users, include Tulum Restaurant, Lezzet, and Marmara Restaurant. Discover all Turkish restaurants: Turkish restaurants near Port Phillip.
These are some highly-rated Turkish restaurants in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia:
- Tulum Turkish Restaurant (5/5)
- Kebab Thyme (5/5)
- Anatolia Gozleme Kitchen (5/5)
- Babajan (4.5/5)
- Roxy Kebabs (4.5/5)
Key ingredients being primarily meat, vegetable and legumes, Turkish meals are generally soupy, consisting of some stew or stock. Hence, bread consumption tends to be way too much among Turks. Turkish kebabs, döner kebab, Turkish ravioli and some eggplant dishes are the trademarks of Turkish cuisine.
Enjoy the Best Turkish Food Melbourne Diners Know and Love
No need to go far to find the delicious Turkish food that Melburnians love. Many of the city's neighbourhoods and central markets serve up some of the best examples of Turkish cuisine in the world. The best Turkish restaurants in Melbourne, according to the majority of Melburnians, can be found in northern suburbs like Coburg.
On the other hand, if you like Turkish food, you don't have to go very far to find good options. The Afghan Gallery, located smack dab in the middle of Fitzroy, is home to some of the city's finest examples of the Turkish cuisine that has become so popular among Melbourne's dining crowd. We welcome new customers to our restaurant who are interested in sampling some of the most delectable dishes we have to offer, including those that take inspiration from Turkish and Persian cuisines.
The Best Turkish Restaurant Melbourne Diners Love to Recommend
If you're in the market for a Turkish restaurant in Melbourne that the locals are raving about, we'd love to have you visit our Fitzroy location. One of the best things about the Afghan gallery's menu is that it includes both Persian and Turkish dishes. They often think about trying to find a restaurant in Coburg that serves Turkish food.
But the Afghan gallery is conveniently located in the heart of Fitzroy, so there's no need to go very far from the downtown area. If you're looking for a Turkish restaurant that is highly recommended by locals in either Carlton or Fitzroy, you'll be happy to know that our establishment is situated along Brunswick Street, a major thoroughfare in both neighbourhoods.
Conclusion
The signature dish at Nomad Melbourne is the result of close collaboration between Jacqui Challinor, the restaurant's renowned executive chef, and Brendan Katich, the kitchen's newly appointed head chef. A nine-course meal for two people is only $95 per head. Australia's Kickin' Inn, a chain with eight other locations in New South Wales, has opened its ninth and final New South Wales location in Melbourne. Industry Beans' trademark style will be blended with some new, contemporary elements. The "Kajun" sauces used at this restaurant are homemade and pair well with the fresh seafood.
You can find Marko right next to the South Melbourne Market. Charley Snadden-Wilson, the chef, is a vegetarian who wants to spread the word. Locally grown or caught ingredients are prioritised, and no artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives are added. The Melbourne neighbourhood of Fairfield now boasts the upscale pasta boutique, Pasta Poetry. There is a large selection of pastas and sauces available at the restaurant.
South Yarra's Vesper is a bar and restaurant known for its seafood-heavy "Harvey" menu with a Mediterranean twist. Dishes like the house-cured swordfish with pickled grape and baby fennel are just one example of the delicious options available from the raw bar. Francesco Castellana, the chef, serves dishes such as mackerel poached in olive oil and fregol prepared in the style of Sardinia. Le Bajo offers traditional Japanese fare that is prepared in a style that is reminiscent of that found in Australia. The majority of Le Bajo's staff are from Nagoya, a city in Japan's Chubu region.
Northern suburbs like Coburg are home to some of Melbourne's best Turkish restaurants, say the city's natives. An Afghan gallery can be found along Brunswick Street, a busy thoroughfare in the Carlton and Fitzroy neighbourhoods of Melbourne. Persian and Turkish dishes sit side by side on the menu at this Afghan gallery. Our menu features many mouthwatering Turkish dishes like Mantoo, Kosmas, and Goodies.
Content Summary
- There is a wealth of great choices, and we've narrowed it down to a select few.
- We used a list of rating points to compile this list of the best Turkish restaurants in Melbourne, so you can easily find the best options near your home.
- Industry Beans, the coffee roastery and cafe owned by brothers Trevor and Steve Simmons in Fitzroy's alleyways, has been open for eight years.
- Over time, it would grow to six locations across Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, becoming a household name in the country's coffee culture along the way.
- The new location, opening in July, will have more space, allowing for a larger dining area, an on-site coffee roastery, and a dedicated retail space.
- The "Kickin Inn" is located at 309 Bay Street in Port Melbourne.
- Melbourne now has the first location of the Australian chain Kickin' Inn, which previously only existed in New South Wales.
- South Melbourne Market visitors will be pleased to know that the newest Southside casual eatery is right on their doorstep, and that many of the dishes on the menu feature plenty of vegetables.
- Marko is unwinding, getting back to his roots, and cooking up a delicious, entirely plant-based meal.
- Dehne Bingham, founder and former CEO of Belles Hot Chicken and 100 Burgers Group, is an industry veteran.
- Vegan and vegetarian lunches are currently being served by Nabin Shrestha (Rumi, Vegie Bar).
- Upon special request, we can prepare any of our burgers in the $12–$15 price range with gluten-free buns and condiments.
- The company's mission extends far beyond the vegetarian options on the menu to include a commitment to reducing its overall environmental footprint.
- Marko uses a novel method for recycling food scraps and partially powers its kitchen with renewable energy while reusing and recycling all of its packaging.
- If you don't have the time or motivation to master the art of making pasta from scratch, though, Fairfield's latest Pasta Poetry will be your culinary saviour.
- Pick up a box of Fairfield's Pasta Poetry and save your taste buds.
- Pasta Poetry was conceived of by Theo Krambias (CH James), a seasoned veteran of Melbourne's hospitality industry, as an ode to the many facets of the art of making pasta.
- Pasta Poetry has unveiled a brand new outdoor courtyard for the 2021–2022 summer season.
- The head chef is Francesco Castellana, an Italian native who has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants such as New York's Per Se and New Orleans' Vue de Monde.
- Over the course of many years of frequent travel between Jakarta and Melbourne, Jason Gunawan, founder and owner of Le Bajo, developed a deep appreciation for Australian way of life.
- Labuan Bajo was meant to be the site of a new city on the Indonesian island of Flores, which is famous for its population of Komodo dragons and its diverse marine life, including manta rays and turtles.
- He decided to relocate the idea to North Melbourne, where it could share a huge garage with several vintage Mercedes and Porsches.
- The fourth lockdown in Melbourne allowed the team to come up with a plan and start looking for vintage farm and general store furniture that had been stored away.
- Though it specialises in traditional Japanese fare, Le Bajo also offers a few dishes that are reminiscent of Australian staples like milkshakes and milk coffees.
- The majority of Le Bajo's staff hail from Nagoya, a city in Japan's Chubu region, and the city's residents are credited with spreading the popularity of the traditional Japanese breakfast, known as the morning set.
- Melbourne's gastronomes are well aware of and fond of our exquisite Turkish cuisine.
- Turks in Melbourne don't have to go far to satisfy their cravings for authentic cuisine.
- Some of the finest examples of Turkish cuisine in the world can be found in the city's many neighbourhoods and main markets.
- Most Melburnians agree that Coburg and other northern suburbs feature Melbourne's finest Turkish restaurants.
- You're in luck, because our Fitzroy location is widely regarded as the best Turkish restaurant in all of Melbourne.
- The menu at the Afghan gallery features both Persian and Turkish cuisine, which is a huge plus.
- However, the Afghan gallery is smack dab in the middle of Fitzroy, so there's no need to venture too far from the centre of town.
- The northern suburbs of the city are widely acknowledged to be home to the city's finest Turkish dining options.
- The Afghan gallery is the place to go if you're one of the many hungry Melbourne locals looking for a place to eat Turkish food.
- Diners who are well-versed in and appreciate Turkish cuisine will be pleased to inform you that the Afghan gallery serves some of the finest examples of this cuisine in Melbourne.