Historical Sultanahmet Meatball Restaurant (Selim Usta)

The historical Sultanahmet Meatball Restaurant is located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, in the historical region with many values that are the landmarks of the city, from Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) to the Süleymaniye Mosque. Opened in 1920 as one of the oldest enterprises in the area, it has more than 100 years of history.

As you can guess, the earmark of this enterprise is meatballs. Piyaz (dried kidney-beans salad), salad, and rice are among the most preferred. According to preference, meatballs that go well with ayran (buttermilk), şalgam (turnip juice), or soft drinks promise a pleasant experience that leaves a taste along with crispy bread. At noon, this enterprise attracts interest from the surrounding business places and it witnesses the intensity of visitors in the hours close to fast-breaking times during Ramadan. You can see queues at all hours of the day throughout the year, mainly in the evenings during the summer months.

On the walls of the interior, you can see photos of many famous names taken while having meatballs at this place. At first, the waiter comes and takes your order, and after dinner, you are expected to call the waiter again to pay the cost instead of making payment at the cashier's desk.

The Historic Sultanahmet meatball is a flavor many others try to make like the same. For this reason, its sign, menu, and corporate identity, in general, include the phrases ‘1920’ and ‘Selim Usta’ in particular. It is useful to remind that all places with a similar name within the borders of this borough do not serve the Historical Sultanahmet Meatballs mentioned here.