Karakoy Özsüt — Local services in Beyoğlu

I had seen videos about this spot from travel bloggers on YouTube and knew it was a not to miss spot for me when visiting Istanbul. This little restaurant is located towards the south end of the busy Istiklal street and slightly North of the Galata Tower. The area is super touristy so I was skeptical about how good this place would be— however, I was not disappointed! I came with my mom for a late breakfast around 12:30pm. The restaurant is small, and cozy. As soon as you walk in you see a counter on your right where the owner is serving the famous kaymak with honey. There is seating both upstairs and downstairs and most tables were already taken. We found a table inside and a nice waitress who spoke some English came to give us menus and take our order. There is a variety of options but we tried:

Classic menemen: this dish came with scrambled eggs cooked in a delicious and light sauce of tomatoes, onions, peppers and mild spices. Imagine a shakshuka but less saucy. The flavor tasted very fresh and this was a comforting dish to complement our meal! There are also other versions with cheese, sausage, both, etc. Exquisite breakfast plate: this plate was very nice! It included several types of cheeses, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, some olives (including grilled which were my favorite!), the most delicious and creamy butter I’ve had in my life, jam, and our first taste of the kaymak and honey-more on this later- super complete and delicious if you want to sample several things and want a complement for your egg dish. It also came with a few pieces of Simit or the Turkish sesame bagel. Perfect to share with someone else! Kaymak with honey: obviously this was the star of the show. Creamy, rich, a little sweet on its own, milky… even alone the kaymak was mindblowingly amazing. I don’t think I’ve had dairy this good before maybe besides from France. This is basically clotted cream from water buffalo milk directly from a farm. The honey was also delicious, silky, and sweet which complimented the kaymak well, it also is made fresh by the family. The portion was generous and perfect for sharing. It also comes with a few pieces of simit for you to enjoy with the dish. Dessert: They offer a variety of desserts! We had heard good things about the rice pudding but opted to try the almond pudding now that we were quite full after lunch and wanted something lighter. The almond pudding was like a more creamy and less dense pana cotta. Very good! Next time, I want to try the rice pudding or the dessert with chicken but kaymak on its own already feels like a dessert so it is hard to eat the additional dish.

Overall, this place completely exceeded my expectations. The quality of the dairy is not something you find easily in big cities and their honey is also to die for. The owner is incredibly kind and even took a photo with me! The wait time is not too long since they have pretty quick service and a simple menu. They no question have the best kaymak we had during our whole trip! Don’t hesitate to stop here to...

A Sweet Delight in Karaköy!

Hasan Özsüt Muhallebicisi is a true gem for anyone craving authentic Turkish desserts. Their muhallebi (milk pudding) is silky, perfectly creamy, and not overly sweet—just the way it should be. The variety of desserts here is incredible, from sütlaç to kazandibi, and every bite is a taste of tradition.

Here’s a detailed review focusing on the kaymak with honey at Hasan Özsüt Muhallebicisi in Karaköy:

Heavenly Kaymak with Honey – A Must-Try!

The kaymak with honey at Hasan Özsüt Muhallebicisi is nothing short of perfection. The kaymak itself is luxuriously creamy, with a velvety texture that melts in your mouth. It has the perfect balance of richness without being too heavy, and the flavor is fresh, pure, and subtly tangy.

The honey served alongside it is a perfect complement—golden, fragrant, and naturally sweet, with floral undertones that elevate the dish. When drizzled over the kaymak, it creates an irresistible combination of creamy and sweet that feels indulgent yet simple.

This dish is a quintessential Turkish breakfast treat or dessert, served with freshly baked bread that adds just the right amount of texture and warmth to each bite. Pair it with a cup of Turkish tea for the full experience!

Hasan Özsüt excels in both the quality of ingredients and presentation, making their kaymak with honey a standout item on the menu. If you’re visiting Karaköy, this is a dish you absolutely cannot miss—it’s a taste of authentic Turkish culinary tradition at its finest.

The ambiance is cozy, and the staff is warm and attentive, always ready to help you choose from their amazing menu. Its location near Karaköy makes it a perfect stop after exploring the area.

Owner has a farm , so you can take clotted cream in kilos if you need .

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this classic Turkish dessert haven! Highly recommended for both locals...

We not only discovered our favorite breakfast dive in Istanbul at Karaköy Özsüt but a new friendship was made between us and the owner Hasan. For that, Karaköy Özsüt will always have a special place in our hearts. The interior is unimpressive and the fluorescent lights are dull. But, this is what it gives it soul and for their sake, we hope Karaköy Özsüt remains the perfect way it is.

Known as having one of the best kaymak in Istanbul, Karaköy Özsüt has its own herd of buffalos whose fresh milk is used to make kaymak (Turkish clotted cream) that makes up a huge part of a traditional Turkish breakfast. A heaping of kaymak and honey are served together on a plate; smeared onto bread and eaten. The kaymak here put us right into a clotted cream high with its smoothness and creaminess. There is something about the Turkish clotted cream that despite its indication of "cream", it does not leave you feeling heavy and sluggish or like one of those feelings where you feel you've really had enough of NY cheesecake. In fact, after a breakfast full of kaymak, I dream of eating it again and again.

Another must-have classic Turkish breakfast item is menemen: scrambled eggs made with tomato, cheese, spices. Sucuk (spicy Turkish sausage) is a common favorite added to menemen so be sure to request for that. The menemen is flavorful while exploding with different combinations of spices which we could not tell what exactly they were except to just savor each...