Hey folks,

Anyone know a good Mexican restaurant on the Asian side? Preferably along the coastline, around Kadikoy, Bagdat Caddesi, etc?

I've been to one on the sahil yolu, out past Bostanci, where things open up and start turning into strip malls, etc. But I'm looking for something a little closer to home.

Any suggestions? I've heard rumors of one around Caddebostan or Goztepe.

Matt

As far as I know, the restaurant I guess you are referring to (El Torrito in Küçükyalı) appears to have closed down. It was wretched and overpriced the one time I ate there. A quick search on Istanbul.net.tr turned up a possibility for you: Gringo Restaurant Cafe Bar, Şaşkınbakkal, 216 368 21 33. When I get a serious jones the only place I've found acceptable is the El Torrito right by the Istanbul University campus on the tramvay yolu. They are very reasonably priced, beers are like 3-4 YTL and the food is not too bad. I also have found a decent tortilla at Carrefour. Its brand is Karmez & the product is called Tortillano. It does seem to have more of a tortilla flavor as we enjoy them in the States rather than the normal lavaş bread. I brought some black beans back from Amerikay so I will be whipping up some vegetarian burritos soon.

If anyone is interested in giong that that place, please invite some other people as well. During our last "asian side" get togethre, there were more people interested in a mexican restaurant

A group at the Mexican restaurant sounds great. I'll put up a post to organize one.

Matt

Ranchero is a good restaurant. Its on Bagdad Cad. 468a around Suadiye. I have eaten there several times and I really liked it.

matt i am still waiting to serve you burritos

Could you please report back on your Mexican food findings? As a Californian, I have
yet to come across anything that remotely resembles Mexican food here in Istanbul.
Some of my Turkish friends said, "No no! There's great Mexican food! We'll take you!"
And we proceeded to go to TGI Friday's. Ah! I felt like I was having a terrifying
flashback to the summer in college where I worked at TGI Friday's and hated life.
Never again! TGIF has fajitas and guacamole, but they were borderline. I miss my
little taco truck in CA that parked on the street and made delicious tacos. Ahhhh,
memories.

Anyway, if you find decent Mexican food, I'd love to know!

A month ago we had our "Final Fridays" (new monthly dinner on the Asian side) at Ranchero on Bagdat Caddesi in Suadiye. The food was good, and it's definitely closer to Mexican food than you'll find at, say, a Chinese restaurant. But I think in Istanbul you're just SOL if you're hankering for that roadside taco truck taste.

I'm from a family of farmers in the CA central valley, where if you close your eyes and throw a rock in any random direction, you'll probably hit a taco truck. You can satisfy lots of cravings in Istanbul, but CA Mexican food isn't one of them. That's what home's for!

Matt

I second Ranchero. i've never eaten there, but I've heard that it is a lot better than El Torrito.

I haven't eaten at any of the Mexican places here - do any of them have a decent mole?

I wouldn't know a decent mole if it came up and punched me in the face, but if the mole is like any of the other stuff at these restaurants, I'd say "expect to find something that reminds you of mole, and be happy with that".

Reminds me of a friend of mine in high school. His older brother, advising him on the world of sex, told him (and then he, of course, told all the rest of us), "don't worry about being the first, just be glad you're there."

Matt

LOL! Thanks for that info! I guess you're right - I should probably be happy just to find a half decent taco or tamale that I don't have to make at home. Good thing friends know that when they visit from the States they have to bring corn tortillas and masa in exchange for a place to stay.