Cuisine
A crossroads cuisine
Turkey sits at the seam of three continents, and Turkish cooking carries the receipts. Spices traded in from the East. Olive oil and fresh herbs from the Mediterranean. Yogurt and grain from the Anatolian highlands. Out of all that, Turkish culinary masters built one of the world's deepest cuisines — quietly, over centuries.
The art of doing more with less
What we love most about this food is its ability to elevate humble ingredients through technique. Take the stuffed grape leaf: a single leaf, sautéed rice, pine nuts, currants, a few spices and herbs. Wrapped tightly — exactly half an inch thick — and stacked on an oval plate with lemon wedges. Nothing exotic. Everything considered.
Balance over fireworks
Turkish cooking aims for balance: flavor, nutrition, and visual appeal in the same bite. Ingredients are chosen with intent. Preparation is patient. The meal arrives looking simple because the kitchen has done the difficult work upstream.
What that means at Turkuaz
Our menu reads as classic — meze, charcoal grills, claypot kebabs, traditional entrées, seafood, baklava — because tradition has already done the editing for us. We cook with grass-fed lamb and fresh produce, keep the kitchen halal, and pour wines that drink well with smoke and yogurt. Bring a few people. Order more than you think you need.
Questions, answered
- Is Turkuaz's kitchen halal?
- Yes — Turkuaz operates a halal kitchen. All meats are sourced from halal-certified suppliers and prepared in keeping with halal standards.
- What is Turkish cuisine?
- Turkish cuisine is one of the world's deepest culinary traditions, sitting at the seam of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian cooking. It centers on charcoal-grilled meats, fresh meze, yogurt, olive oil, fresh herbs, and slow-cooked stews.
- What is adana kebab?
- Adana is a hand-minced lamb kebab seasoned with red pepper, hand-shaped onto a wide skewer, and grilled over charcoal. Named for the southern Turkish city of Adana, it's traditionally served with grilled tomato, peppers, and warm flatbread.
- What is künefe?
- Künefe is a hot Turkish dessert made from shredded phyllo (kataifi) layered with melting sweet cheese, baked until golden, then drenched in light syrup and topped with crushed pistachio. Best eaten the moment it leaves the oven.
- What is manti?
- Manti are tiny Turkish dumplings — typically filled with spiced lamb or beef — served under garlic yogurt and a brown butter spiced with red pepper and sumac.
- What is baklava?
- Baklava is layered phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts (commonly pistachio or walnut) and bound with honey or syrup. Turkish baklava traditionally uses pistachio from Gaziantep.
- Does Turkuaz have vegetarian or vegan options?
- Yes — the meze section is largely vegetarian (hummus, babaganoush, stuffed grape leaves, shepherd's salad, etc.), and several mains can be prepared vegan on request.
- Where is Turkuaz located in New York?
- Turkuaz has two New York locations: Midtown West at 310 W 53rd Street (Theater District) and Midtown East at 1072 Second Avenue (opening soon).