Pikolet June 17, 2010

In my never-ending quest to find the best kokoreç in Ankara, I followed a recommendation from the comments section of an earlier post and checked out Pikolet. At this point in the contest, the competition is fierce: Kıtır and Profesör have been impressive, but the lead is currently being held by Doğata Satış Mağazası in Atatürk Orman Çiftliği. Pikolet performs well against these competitors with some very good sebzeli kokoreç. In the end, though, it falls a bit short of beating them.

I tend to judge kokoreç based on the balance displayed between flavor and consistency. Good kokoreç will exhibit enough spicing to bring out and complement the natural flavors of the lamb and vegetables without becoming overwhelming. It will also maintain a consistency that is fine enough to avoid being overly chewy while still able to provide sufficient texture in each bite. This balance is not something quantifiable; I can’t say that this kokoreç is 21 percent better than that kokoreç. But it’s the basis I use when judging these places, something I’ve honed by consuming dozens and dozens of portions.

I enjoyed the kokoreç at Pikolet. Particularly for the vegetable variety (I tend to prefer the izgara ones), it’s very tasty. However, I’d probably go to the other places mentioned above before returning here. There’s not a drastic different; it’s simply a matter of preference, which ultimately is the final arbiter in taste. You can’t go wrong with any of them, so try each of these places and decide on the best for yourself.

In the upcoming weeks, I’m going to be checking out the kokoreç at Rumeli. Although known more for its işkembe, several readers have recommended it to me for consideration in my rankings.

Pikolet is located on Gençlik Cad., not far from Düveroǧlu (Google Maps). The other branch of Profesör is also nearby if you want to check out the competition. A yarım portion of kokoreç costs 7TL ($4.50 at 1.57TL/$). Köfte and midye dolması are sold at Pikolet as well.

Profesör June 2, 2010

I sometimes wonder about the distance that would be covered if I lined up all of the lamb intestine I’ve consumed as kokoreç during my time in Turkey. It might stretch for miles. This past weekend I added to this distance with a visit to Profesör.

Profesör advertises itself as one of the top ten kokoreç places in Turkey, a status that I believe is based on this 2004 ranking in Hürriyet. According to the article, founder Adnan Zengin incorporates special ingredients from Mersin into his kokoreç and prepares it in ‘hygienic conditions’. Over fourteen years in business, Zengin’s work earned him the nickname that now stands as the name of the restaurant.

I will concur with Hürriyet that Profesör offers some exceptional kokoreç. The spicing is dynamic but not overwhelming, and the consistency maintains the all-important delicate balance between substance and texture. It’s quite comparable to Kıtır, although in the end I would give Profesör the edge.

However, the title of ‘Best Kokoreç in Ankara’ cannot be awarded until I try the much-praised offerings at Atatürk Orman Çiftliği. I will do so once I figure how to get there without a car.

The menu at Profesör also contains midye tava, köfte ekmek and chicken wings. They looked tasty, but the confines of a reasonable meal prevented me from sampling them.

Profesör has four locations around Ankara: Anıtepe, Sıhıye, Kızılay and Kavaklıdere. This review is based on the latter location on Bestekar Sk. (Google Maps). Profesör is on the expensive side; a portion of kokoreç costs 7.50TL ($4.75 at 1.59TL/$). Alcohol is served.

Çino Kokoreç October 13, 2009

Ulus is one area of Ankara that is not often frequented by the city’s expat community.  Many Turks go to great lengths to dissuade foreigners from visiting this older, poorer and more conservative neighborhood.  Some have gone as far as to suggest that one risks physical harm if he dares to walk these streets.  In my experience, these fears are entirely exaggerated.  I have encountered some of the most cordial and welcoming people in the city during my trips to Ulus.

This year I have been making a habit of doing my produce shopping at the Ulus Hali (Google Maps), a large wholesale market on Alsancak Sk.  The fruits and vegetables are half the price and twice the quality of what I get in Bilkent.  The men who work the various stands are also very friendly and appreciate the novelty of a yabancı (foreigner) in a distinctly local place.  Through their recommendations, I discovered Çino Kokoreç.  Adjacent to the market’s entrance, it’s a popular place to enjoy the deliciousness of lamb intestine.  A yarım portion (one half) will cost you 4.50TL ($3 at 1.46TL/$).