Türkiye is a country of two continents, European and Asian, and that is why the food of this country contains the peculiarities of both continents. Turkish cuisine is a unique combination of flavors, spices, and herbs developed over thousands of years, influenced by the Central Asian nomads and Arabic, Persian, Italian, French, and Eastern European cultures. While New York has some great Turkish food if one knows where to look, most of it leaves some room for improvement. Could Jersey be better? The town of Carlstadt has mainly residential private homes, with a spattering of condos and garden apartments. The main shopping area is all of about three blocks long on both sides of the street. Translated from the Turkish language, meaning sultan, we have come to this family-owned/family-run establishment located on Hackensack Street since 2006 for Saturday dinner. The reservation was easily made by Google Assistant. Upon entering this hidden gem called Hünkar Restaurant as first-timers, my partner, our friends, and I were greeted by the staff inside a cozy room, where ethnic pictures and decorations as well as the music all add to the vibe. A great view of the NYC skyline is visible from their enclosed back patio. Their menu features Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine with a modern twist and serves alcohol. As an appetizer, we decided on the Kibbeh (Icli Kofte), Calamari (Kalamar), and Cigarette Borek (Sigara Boregi). For our main meal, we opted for Chicken Saute (Taouk Sote), Shrimp Kebab, Lamb Shish Kebab (Kuzu Sis Kebab), and Chicken Shish Kebab (Tavuk Kebab). All Kebab meal accompanied by rice, char-grilled tomatoes, peppers, and a small salad. Warm, fluffy pida bread with a crisp crust started our meal. Every dish bursts with authentic flavor and is beautifully presented, from the fact that Turkish families from all over the area eat here. The staff is warm, welcoming, and very professional; our server was Akincan "John," the owners' son. The price was comparable to the area with the right portion. We can recommend this place. read more

See all

I have been going to this restaurant for many many years and they have not lost a beat. Every single appetizer and entrée is made with such love and care. The portions are fantastic but the quality is what sets it apart from a lot of other places. On a nice day, do yourself a favor and ask them to see you in the back enclosed porch where you will get a view of NYC. read more

See all

Have been coming here for several years and yet to have a bad meal. While the kabobs are good, I'd highly suggest asking server for suggestions. Years ago I was turned onto Hunkar Begendi... it's Amazing. New owners kept the menu as was and are super friendly. Very mellow, quiet, casual atmosphere. Parking could be tough, but worth driving around. read more

See all

Party of three on a Saturday evening around 7pm. Somehow the place was practically empty. We were seated in the back three season covered patio area - quite charming. The staff aren't too confident with English but I thought they did a great job communicating. We had the tzatziki dip, eggplant fritters, chicken platter, and another ground meat dish all of which were as good but the ground meat was the star of the show. At the table, there is ambient lighting and you're served tasty bread for the table. If you ask for water, they'll serve Poland spring for the table at a charge. read more

See all

It's been a while since I stopped in and shame on me. Hunkar is even better than I recalled. It is my favorite Turkish restaurant and a great place to start for the novice to try this type of cuisine. It's been around for over 20 years; new ownership four years ago brought in a liquor license ( no sitting bar) which is rare for a Turkish restaurant. Same chef though ( a lot of experience here). IMO another example of a restaurant not being visited enough as it was slow on a recent, rainy, Friday night. Atmosphere pleasing. Service is super friendly and knowledgeable. Turkish food is one of the most flavorful of Mediterranean cuisines. Similar to Greek but with much more depth and menu selection. The hummus, babaganush, and other spreads with their warm (pide) bread is a great way to start. LOVE Turkish stuffed grape leaves as they are a little sweeter with chutneys and nuts ( all house made) The infamous grilled meats are seasoned & cooked to perfection. (even the white rice was fantastic if you know good from bad) My favorite dish is Hunkar Begendi ( Sultan's Delight) a classical Istanbul dish- chicken or lamb chunks cooked in tomato sauce, served on eggplant puree blended with cheese. It is sooo good, everyone at the table loved it. There are so many items to try and you should. But save room for dessert as most are house made and amazing. From baklava, to milk or rice puddings. Bombas ( gelato balls with cherries and cinnamon) But the ultimate you must try is Kunefe: a crispy cheese-filled dessert made with shredded wheat with pistachio filling. Served hot out of the oven with a honey drizzle. It is the ultimate example of sweet & savory perfection. So in closing ..... Expand your horizons.... Turkish is not Greek.... and I know we all like trying the new, latest places but don't overlook places like this; that have been around for decades. IMO the true, authentic Turkish food, prepared with love. True foodies will love it. read more

Pretty good food got mixed grilled and combo sides it was full of flavor and went during lunch pretty empty so had good ambiance and no noise the combo was good it was delightful and the mixed grill was pretty hardy overall i was fulfilled and tasted great 8/10 will come back also had authentic turkish bevs and flavors read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Extra bread - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

See all

Saturday - 2pm I was transported to another world when I walked into the restaurant , bringing back fond memories of my travels to Istanbul and bodrum for a friends wedding years ago . We were immediately welcomed with a smile and positivity as we were given an option to choose where we wanted to be seated . We opted for the area in the back with a view of nyc ( despite the gloomy weather , it was quite nice ). The food was just like how I remember it, every dish from the cold appetizers ( a choice of 4 dips , the server helped pick them out.- as I like spicy , I enjoyed the spicy feta ), to the fried squid ( not chewy like the ones from American establishments ) , stuffed cabbage , mixed meat platter and the ultimate favorite , the steak were delicious . All the mains were accompanied by rice and salad . There were 5 of us and that was just the right amount of food . Of course , we had to make sure that we had room for dessert . Glad I convinced my mom , sisters to order two of the kunefe ( love the cheesiness and the warmth with the pistachio and honey ), a scoop of ice cream would have even made it even better . Our server, a beautiful young lady was attentive and made the whole experience memorable and enjoyable . I'm glad we found this gem , a 10 min drive from my sisters house . As I live in the city and have sampled loads of restaurants, I have high standards , which often stresses my family when I come to visit . This will be part of our rotation . I would like to come back and try it during dinner in the colder months , hopefully the restaurant will have more crowded than during lunch read more

See all

Everything is fresh and delicious. I recommend it. Service and ambiance are also good.

Great food and good prices. Beautiful view of NYC from back patio. Hünkar begendi and Adana kebap are my favorites. read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Great view - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

Came for dinner on a Sunday night and chose to sit in their outside area. Hunkar used to be BYOB, as of writing this, I was advised they now serve alcohol. If you would like to bring in your own, there is a $20 surcharge. Waiter was amazing and very attentive. They served great complementary bread which went well with our appetizer choice. We started with the grape leaves and 4 cold appetizer sampler and chose : #19 Hummus, #22 Spicy Paste (Acili Ezme), #25 Cacik, and #26 Lebni. All were great, but the Lebni was fantastic. I personally don't like grape leaves that much, but they were outstanding; so fresh. For entrees we ordered the #8 - Hunkar Special Mediterranean Salad with shrimp and #52 - Hunkar Special Mix Grill, both were great and we used some left over Lebni on top. To finish it off, a traditional Turkish Coffee. I have been a couple of times and will definitely be back. read more

See all

We've been here a few times and besides the food being delicious, we're always impressed with the attentive service. Thought I'd try something different today so I got the Hunkar Begendi with chicken. Absolutely delicious! Loved it! read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Hunkar Begendi - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

Like many family run businesses, the folks at Hunkar Restaurant took much of the month of August off. I read the reviews and arranged to meet a friend at the restaurant. I flew in from New Orleans and rented a car especially for this as I had to get back for another flight home. It is ON ME that I failed to call. I made the unfortunate assumption that I could get a table on a Tuesday night. BUT I write this review in the hopes others will avoid my mistake and call to confirm. I also hope the owners will consider making notice on their website the next time they take a well deserved vacation. read more

Went for a baby shower so this review isn't your every day dining experience but we had a great time! The staff was attentive and the food was incredible! Definitely will go back for dinner or lunch in the future. We went in the summer and although the back room was super hot, they did their best to accommodate and had extra fans. read more

It's a great family-owned restaurant with a beautiful view of Manhattan in the back room. The food was delicious, and the service was on point. We had a great time. read more

Very nice interior, good service. We sat in the front room which was alittle warmer. Looks nicer inside than you would expect from the outside. We started with hummus and bread. It was pretty good hummus and the bread was warm. I had the Chicken Shish Kebab (Tavuk Kebab) and my husband had the Iskender Kebab. Chicken was moist and well marinated. My husband loved the Iskender Kebab - ate everything on the plate. He said it was one of the best dishes he has had all year. We had the Kunefe for dessert which was good but not as good as some other turkish restaurants. Overall, a great meal and we will definitely be back. read more

We went last night for my boyfriend's mom's bday dinner. The food was amazing ! The staff were so friendly and warm welcoming. They seated us in the back area, which we requested because of the beautiful NYC views. It was just a very enjoyable well rounded meal and experience. Also the Happy Birthday at the end was beautiful. We will absolutely be coming back for a date night ! read more

See all

Excellent quality and taste. Ordered the lamb and okra as well as liver.... Both were outstanding along with homemade bread... I will be back ! read more

This has to be the worse service I received at a restaurant. My daughter received her dinner while my wife and mine came out 30 minutes later. While the food was ok the service was so bad I could not recommend this place. read more

One of my favorite Turkish spots in Bergen county. The ambiance is nice, plenty was tables and space between others. My go to items include their Sheppard salad with feta cheese, cheese rolls, manti (homemade ravioli with yogurt), and iskandar (only available from Friday-Sunday). Service is great too. Highly recommend! read more

Loved our quick visit to this spot! Very polished and upscale setting, but also feels comfy and cozy for dinner with friends and family. We are vegan and we had plenty of options to choose from. The stuffed grape leaves were perfect. The small sampler appetizer was great and came with wonderful Turkish bread. The service was good as well. Can't wait to go back and try more of their veg options! read more

See all

Excellent food, nice service with a smile and a very warm atmosphere. Wonderful view from back room. Didi was terrific and so friendly...very warm and pleasant personality. read more

See all

The food iat Hunkar is great. We had the chicken kebab, Adana kebab and shish kebab and all were juicy and delicious. For dessert we had the Kazan dibi with Turkish tea and it hit the spot. The service was just as great, with the waitress very friendly and attentive. Also the owner came over and was just as friendly. Overall a great place for authentic Turkish food. Highly recommend it. read more

We love love love this restaurant!! We went two times in a short period of time, because that is how we like about their food and their services. Both delivered with a high satisfaction!!;) All the dishes (we ordered quite a good alount of everything) are always fresh and tasty!! The server Akincan was so wonderful!! Sercan, the manager or the owner, are so hospitable!! We definitely will be back despite the 30 mins drive from home. It worths. Highly recommend this restaurant if you haven't tried yet!! read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

See all

I love this place!! Really Turkish food!! Flavors are well balanced. It's a BYOB, so bring your wine and enjoy! Don't forget to over order so u have delicious leftovers the next day. Staff doesn't always speak English perfectly, but it's all part of the experience. Enjoy!!!! read more

Hunkar Restaurant - 03. Shepherd Salad - Coban salata - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

See all

This was my first time here and certainly won't be the last. The food and service were top notch. I started with the Roka salad which was very good. The zucchini pancake appetizer was crispy and flavorful. For the entree, I had the Hunkar Begendi with lamb which was fantastic. I barely had room for dessert but couldn't resist trying the Bomba and it definitely didn't disappoint. Can't wait to go back. read more

See all

haven't been here or ordered here for a while. thought my wife would enjoy some last nite. . . $50 is too much for a mixed grill . . maybe if I win the lottery I can eat here again lol read more

My favorite Turkish Restaurant. We've come here Often. Don't know were to begin. Hospitality is above the rest So welcoming and always tending to your needs. They go above and beyond. Love the decor and they have an outside covered balcony you feel like you're in Türkiye . Food is the best. Every time we go have to get there Stuffed Grape Leaves some of the best he ever had. We get the Fried Liver a must try. The Turkish way is way better than others. The whole Branzino was delicious fresh and perfectly cooked. My favorite is the Doner Keba it's special they only serve on Friday Saturday and Sundays. One of my favorite places to eat. read more

Service!! Unacceptable!! 1 server for 6 different tables at the same time! Part of my daughter's meal came out, then the rest of it came out at least 10 minutes later. Then mine & my husband's didn't come out until my daughter was done eating! read more

We tried their lunch specials for the first time today & it wil not be the last time. Their lunch specials includes an appetizer and a can of soda. Like their dinner entrees with a slightly smaller serving size. Totally enjoyed our chicken kabobs, our zucchini pancakes and feta cigarettes. Tender flavorful chicken, crisp chopped salad, their delicious rice, and awesome warm fresh bread made for a nice meal I happily recommend. Yummy stuff! read more

After eating here for many years, this time was last time. Restaurant lacks service and food was tasteless. Patio dining room was freezing and lacks heat. Restrooms are not heated and one can freeze his private patts once exposed. Bread was served hard like a rock after being reheated many times, shepherd salad was not fresh and had no dressing or taste. Some of the prices are way ridiculous for a hole in the middle of nowhere. $46 for mixed grill plate is way overpriced. So on this note, I am not going back or would not recommend it to others. Patio read more

Their KOFTE is by far, the most superior Kofte I have ever tried!!! It was reasonably priced too considering how phenomenal the flavor and quality was! I highly recommend their Kofte! It was so tender, juicy, flavorful, perfectly balanced, gourmet. I wasn't sure what to expect so I was caught by surprise when it was so authentic. Another dish I adored was their Adana Kebab (Skewered Ground Lamb) was also very lovely! If I had to choose I would still prefer Kofte, but that is just my personal preference. Both the Kofte and Adana were divine and I 100% recommend both!!! Ambiance is lovely, it's very home style. People love the outdoor patio which I didn't check out. I hear it has a lovely view though. It's cozy, formal yet casual and comfortable. The owner also came out with our entrees and served us. Our waitresses were so lovely and helpful. I definitely will be back again. Table bread... oh my gosh, don't get me started. Superior. Complete perfection. It's hard not to eat all of it, but must resist to save yourself for the main course. I also really enjoyed the rice that came with my kofte. The pepper that came with my kofte was very VERY hot, go in easy, try a little bite first before adding more... I can handle hot peppers very well, but this was very surprising. Hands down, best Turkish food I have had in America! read more

Food is soo good, fresh and healthy!! Waiters are so busy.. but didn't stop us from enjoying the food. The kitchen staffs are friendly. Will definitely come back again and bringing more friends. read more

See all

Awesome Food ! Awesome staff! Worth the Money! We sat In the back area nice atmosphere of New York. read more

The food was well-seasoned. Ask for seating in the back patio. It's enclosed and you get a city view. It's the kind of place that makes you want to try a little of everything, which can amp up the bill. That makes it a great date night/celebration outing spot versus a relaxed, takeout vibe. read more

I always order for pick up and the food is excellent, the lamb shank was very good, I usually order the Shepherd Salad but today I ordered Hunkar Special "Mediterranea" Salad, it cost more but included the same plus lettuce, radish and feta cheese, I only received a lot lettuce with very little Feta, few tomato and onion, the cook forgot the cucumber and radish...maybe they will send them extra in the future order . The baklawa disappointed me, I was expecting a home made piece and they were 4 miniatures of the same ones I buy in the supermarket. read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

Great service, nice owners, fresh and delicious food. Definitely recommend. In the summer will be back to sit in their back room. Great views! Look forward to going back. read more

I must say...this restaurant is on point! For this review, I want to focus specifically on the dessert that I had that was just out of this world. Their Turkish custard (Kazandibi) was one of the best I have had. I wasn't that hungry so I didn't order a main course and just stuck to dessert. Also, I should note that it is a nice BYOB spot. If you can, ask to be seated in the back on the deck. It has a phenomenal view of NYC and the stadium. read more

Nice family and good food but portions are small for takeout- this is what we got in the combination appetizer for $30 read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Large combination platter - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey

yemekler bir harikaydi ellerinize sağlık tafsiye edebllecegim bir mekan ilgi alakanız için çok teşekkür ederim

Was in the area, found this randomly on Yelp, decided to try it out & so happy I did! This place has a super cute back room which has a tree house type of feel to it & a beautiful view of NYC! Appetizers were nice and really enjoyed main dish of yogurtlu, would love to return next time in the area! read more

Hunkar Restaurant - Enjoying yogurtlu with a beautiful view of NYC, such a cozy corner spot in the back room :) - Turkish Near Me - Carlstadt, New Jersey