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    Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant

    3.5 (43 reviews)
    InexpensiveTurkish, Desserts
    Closed 7:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant Photos

    PUDDING SHOP LALE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant

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    Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant
    Richard S.

    Located in the Sultanahmet District which is the most popular tourist area. You stand in front of the counter with the food and tell what you want . My wife got some eggplant and rice dish and I ordered a lamb dish which is roosted as you entered the restaurant. Just ok.

    Roast chicken and rice
    Richard W.

    Came here with our tour guide since we wanted the local experience versus a fine dining one. They took our order on the bottom floor then we were seated upstairs where there is slightly more room. It's cafe style seating. I ordered the gyro Iskender - which means it's a plate of sliced gyro meat (yes, from the one in the window), over pita bread covered with a tomato sauce. Kinda messy, but there's bits of goodness to pick at - the gyro goes well with tomato dressing and there's also two large dollops of white cheese. Chicken with rice - pretty basic yet large whole chicken leg, accompanied by a separate plate of soft white rice. Atmosphere is bustling but not loud where you can't have a normal conversation. The food is good here but not anything that will knock your socks off. I'd recommend coming here because it's convenient, quick and centrally located. That's all.

    03/13/23
    Michael U.

    Opened by brothers Idris and Namik Çolpan in 1957 Lale Pastanesi is commonly known as The Pudding Shop, its fame largely derived from proximity to Hagia Sophia and being the first place where tourists could obtain direct transport to Asia. Ever since a meeting place for fair-priced Food, the menu a mix of Turkish favorites and items like Onion Rings, it is atop tables decorated with currency that guests are invited to enjoy Doner or Kebabs while sipping salted Yogurt. No doubt touristy, complete with English-fluent staff and menus, Eggplant roasted around fatty Lamb is a highlight while those in the know won't skip Tavuk Göğsü made from Chicken Breast, Milk, Rice, Cinnamon and Sugar.

    Kel P.

    Fairly price for otherwise ordinary Turkish food! I suppose it is at a touristy spot and considering Bill Clinton has been there, I guess it kinda is expected. Food was alright, menu was straight forward with no surprises, but food is quite pricy which is not the best.

    Miscellaneous yumminess at the Pudding Shop
    Michael T.

    This is an iconic diner in Istanbul, Turkey made famous by the book and movie, "Midnight Express." Nowadays, the hippies are gone, and what remains is sort of a "tour of Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine" delights in a buffet-style format. Simply point to the food you want, load up and grab a seat. Wash it all down with some Raki, peer out the window at the landscape of trams and minarets and immerse yourself in a culture quite unlike anything you'll find in the States. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed this simple restaurant with its sign obviously catering to English-speakers. The realization that it was a tourist trap didn't matter. It was a fun place with a good vibe and a healthy mix of locals and foreigners.

    Carlos S.

    Every time I've eaten here I have had a very satisfying experience. Great cross section of Turkish food and atmosphere situated in a very historical section of the city. Can't wait to eat there again.

    Ashure (dried fruit and nut) pudding
    Neal N.

    Come for the history. Stay for the food! This historic waypoint for travelers was used for leaving messages for other travelers. As its name implies, the Pudding Shop originally sold pudding, but later expanded into other Turkish and Ottoman cuisine. Yes, the food is pricier than places just next door, but it's definitely excellent quality. All of their food is packed with flavor, and the ashure (dried nut and fruit) pudding is a good snack for those looking to eat a little lighter. I especially like their mushroom topped with bechamel. The service is great. One of my friends spent what felt like 10 minutes trying to get partial portions of everything they had to offer. I was getting more impatient than the staff. The next day, I brought a couple other friends here, and the staff didn't try to move us along, even though we only had pudding and tea. Even if you opt to just stop in to read letters sent to others and not eat anything, this place is worth a look.

    Meatball kebob
    Geraldine S.

    Central location, decent prices and good portions. After eating at a variety of places in the area my family and I agree that Pudding Shop meatball kebabs were our favorite. The restaurant displays most of there entrees, which is great for tourists you get to see the food before ordering it. Besides the meatball kebabs we also ordered a stuff potato plate which was delicious, unfortunately can't remember the name, it has meat and veggies inside potato. Delicious. Chicken kebab plate was good as well. Free wifi available :)

    Meatball dish

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    3 years ago

    The food was so so but the waiters were rushing us and rude. There is no ambiance as we had to share a table with others.

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    7 years ago

    Avoid it. Mediocre, too busy you can find much better in the area- even if it is touristy

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    9 years ago

    Friendly staff. Excellent food. Coffee and pudding was pretty awesome as well. Recommend for sure!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant

    Our tour guide brought us to this place which is very nearby the Hagia Sophia Church, Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern where you can see the Medusa is right around the corner.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Karaköy Özsüt  - Rashit devant son établissement

    Karaköy Özsüt

    4.8(13 reviews)
    1.6 kmKemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mh., Arap Cami
    ₺₺

    The owner makes his special Kaymak, buffalo cream with honey in the front of the shop and it is to…read moredie for. He greets everyone and knows about 5 languages. This is a family-owned shop for over 50 years and the family also owns a farm, where they get the ingredients for their dishes. All of the food was amazing. The service was fantastic. You can't go to Istanbul and not have a meal here.

    *Note: This place also goes by the name Karakoy Ozsut. The entrance says Haci Hasan Fehmi,…read morereflecting the name Hasan who is the 3rd generation and current owner. Step inside and on the walls you will see featured articles about this place aka Karakoy Ozsut* We not only discovered our favorite breakfast dive in Istanbul at Karaköy Özsüt but a new friendship was made between us and the owner Hasan. For that, Karaköy Özsüt will always have a special place in our hearts. The interior is unimpressive and the fluorescent lights are dull. But, this is what it gives it soul and for their sake, we hope Karaköy Özsüt remains the perfect way it is. Known as having one of the best kaymak in Istanbul, Karaköy Özsüt has its own herd of buffalos whose fresh milk is used to make kaymak (Turkish clotted cream) that makes up a huge part of a traditional Turkish breakfast. Hasan frequently drives his truck out to his ranch, 125km away from Istanbul, where he milks the buffalos and gathers the milk to produce kaymak. At one point in conversation, he whips out his cell phone and shows us a short video of his baby buffalo at the ranch. Awww. A heaping of kaymak and honey are served together on a plate; smeared onto bread and eaten. The kaymak here put us right into a clotted cream high with its smoothness and creaminess. There is something about the Turkish clotted cream that despite its indication of "cream", it does not leave you feeling heavy and sluggish or like one of those feelings where you feel you've really had enough of NY cheesecake. In fact, after a breakfast full of kaymak, I dream of eating it again and again. Another must-have classic Turkish breakfast item is menemen: scrambled eggs made with tomato, cheese, spices. Sucuk (spicy Turkish sausage) is a common favorite added to menemen so be sure to request for that. The menemen is flavorful while exploding with different combinations of spices which we could not tell what exactly they were except to just savor each spoonful of it. Hasan also makes the best lentil soup, ever. We have been hooked since.

    Photos
    Karaköy Özsüt  - Les noix fraiches confites

    Les noix fraiches confites

    Karaköy Özsüt  - Le Kaymak avec le miel

    Le Kaymak avec le miel

    Karaköy Özsüt  - Kaymak and honey

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    Kaymak and honey

    Tandir Kadayif & Kunefe - Freshly made kunefe

    Tandir Kadayif & Kunefe

    4.0(2 reviews)
    1.9 kmMüeyyedzade Mh., Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa
    ₺₺

    I was first introduced to this deliciousness called Knafe when I worked in Israel many years ago…read more Since then, I have traveled far and wide to eat Kunefe/ knafe. It is probably my favorite dessert. I mean, how can you go wrong with cheese baked in a semolina crust and soaked in sweetness? I researched places to eat Kunefe near the Galata tower and Yelp showed me Tandir. It is quite close to the tower and we walked in during one snowy evening around 8pm. We were the only patrons in the small space and the kunefe was made fresh from scratch. No pre-prepared stuff here. Needless to say, it was delicious! It was not as mind-blowing as the ones I had in Akko and Haifa, but it is great. There are other desserts on the menu, but I went here to eat kunefe alone. I left a happy man after finishing my share and my husband's share.

    I walked in to this place specifically to try Kunefe since reading from description it sounded…read moredelicious and definitely wanted to try it during my Istanbul trip. The place is nice and clean with a visble kitchen and you can see them preparing your dessert. They do not have a lot of options, but if you want to come specifically for Kunefe then might be worth sitting down. As for the desert itself, the texture was amazing, and highly recommended for everyone with a sweet tooth. It was crispy, fluffy, warm, creamy, syrupy tipped with pistachios. For me little too sweet, but I imagine they are supposed to be that way. I cannot handle too much sweetness but just the texture of the dessert makes me want to have it again.

    Photos
    Tandir Kadayif & Kunefe - Kunefe

    Kunefe

    Tandir Kadayif & Kunefe - Menu

    Menu

    Tandir Kadayif & Kunefe - Menu

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    Menu

    Köşkeroğlu - 03/15/23

    Köşkeroğlu

    4.6(14 reviews)
    1.7 kmKemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mh.
    ₺₺

    Located not far from Karaköy Güllüoğlu is Köşkeroğlu Karaköy, to many the only competitor for best…read moreBaklava though Köşkeroğlu's collection spans larger including not just standards featuring Walnuts or Pistachios but also Rice Pudding, Asure Pudding and packaged goods. Actually two separate spaces, one selling Kebap and traditional Turkish Food with the other specializing in Dessert, it is inside the latter that several counters are found covered in Phyllo wrapped around everything from ground Beef in the case of Borek or loaded with Nuts and Honey. Named for the 1946 founder, though he surely had no idea diabetes-friendly or Gluten-free Baklava would one day be a thing, prices trend similar to other shops in the area while textures are a little less well-differentiated than Güllüoğlu except in the case of unrivaled Pistachio "Bride Packs."

    I loved this spot! I came here for breakfast to try the su borek and it was so delicious, the…read moreperfect blend of cheese and flakiness of the pastry. I'm was told that this is the place to go to for katmir and I'm glad that I went because it was so good! The katmir is very sweet but I love just how packed with pistachios it is! This paired with a nice cup of cay is so incredible

    Photos
    Köşkeroğlu - 03/15/23 Kol Kiymali Boregi - Rolled Beef Borek Pastry

    03/15/23 Kol Kiymali Boregi - Rolled Beef Borek Pastry

    Köşkeroğlu - 03/15/23 Kol Kiymali Boregi - Rolled Beef Borek Pastry

    03/15/23 Kol Kiymali Boregi - Rolled Beef Borek Pastry

    Köşkeroğlu - 03/15/23

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    03/15/23

    Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant - turkish - Updated May 2026

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