So, Dürümcü Mahmut Usta is a proper legit dürüm restaurant near Istanbul Airport known for grilled wraps and kebab-style meat. According to the reviews at least it is bloody awesome, scoring a whopping 4.7/5 on TripAdvisor.
So, seeing as I was staying near the airport, at the Dem Premium Hotel and quite literally next to the Dürümcü Mahmut Usta I thought I should give it a shot.
No boring chain, nor a place for influencers to get freebies for doing Instagram posts, no, no this is a single location classic Turkish restaurant that serves baller food.
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What the Dürümcü Mahmut Usta?
Dürümcü Mahmut Usta was opened in 1998 by Mahmut himself. It is located in the Arnavutköy district, just a short drive from Istanbul Airport, tucked along local streets rather than in a mall or flashy strip. Over the years, it has earned a reputation among locals and travellers alike for its focus on charcoal-grilled meats and straightforward Turkish wraps, maintaining a single-location approach rather than expanding into a chain.
The restaurant is modest in style, with simple seating, a no-nonsense kitchen, and a focus on efficiency and quality of service. Its long-standing presence in the area has made it a recognised stop for airport workers, locals, and anyone looking for authentic Turkish street food nearby. Despite its modest exterior, it is highly regarded and consistently busy, showing that the reputation is built on regular customer trust rather than hype.
The Dürümcü Mahmut Usta Menu
OK, so while I was looking for a decent shawarma restaurant, the fact that Dürümcü Mahmut Usta was recommended by the Dem Premium Hotel and that it had a great picture menu of kebabs drew me in. The menu here, as mentioned, is “durum” which means kebabs, sandwiches and meat grilled over charcoal, with some other bits and bobs also offered.
Here’s ten top menu tips working on the theory of – USD conversions at 1 TL ≈ 0.0248 USD:
- Adana dürüm – Adana Wrap – 260 TL (~$6.45)
- Urfa dürüm – Urfa Wrap – 260 TL (~$6.45)
- Tavuk şiş dürüm – Chicken Skewer Wrap – 245 TL (~$6.08)
- Tavuk kanat – Chicken Wings (plate) – 375 TL (~$9.30)
- Çıtır tavuk – Crispy Chicken (plate) – 350 TL (~$8.70)
- Adana kebap – Adana Kebab (plate) – 445 TL (~$11.05)
- Urfa kebap – Urfa Kebab (plate) – 445 TL (~$11.05)
- Kuzu şiş – Lamb Skewer (plate) – 505 TL (~$12.55)
- Ciğer – Liver (plate) – 485 TL (~$12.03)
- Karışık kebap – Mixed Kebab Plate – 950 TL (~$23.60)
The mixed kebab plate I had includes tavuk şiş (chicken), Adana kebap (minced lamb), Urfa kebap (mild lamb), kuzu şiş (lamb chunks), and tavuk kanat (chicken wings), served with onions, a grilled tomato, greens, lavaş bread, bulgur and grilled vegetables.
The food and service?
Considering I entered the restaurant at the arse end of a Sunday night it was relatively busy, particularly as it was a cold (5 degrees) Istanbul evening. Despite said weather I opted to sit outside so I could smoke, before being dragged in by the very caring waiter.
Food wise I went for the huge mixed kebab, which consisted of chicken, Adana, Urfa, lamb chunks, and wings, onions, a tomato, onions and some greens. On top of this I got chips (I am English), which came with a chilli and a mint/yoghurt type sauce. The whole thing was fucking huge, but so indicative of what you expect from Turkish cuisine, not over-seasoned, but enough meats to give you the sweats. I was not massively impressed with the chilli and mint sauces, but that was more my preference than a dig at the restaurant.
This was a proper kebab meal with all the trimmings and a great street food way to spend my first evening in Istanbul. Wonderful service and defo the kind of place I would come back to. BUT! Price wise, the mixed kebab, fries, a Pepsi and a tea came to 1210 TL (~$30). For context my fairly decent hotel room was $30…..
Location, contact and opening times of Dürümcü Mahmut Usta
Name: Dürümcü Mahmut Usta
Address: Fatih Cd. 276 A, Arnavutköy, 34110 Istanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 801 4525
Opening times:
Monday to Sunday: 07:30 – 02:00
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