If you're searching for authentic Turkish flavors, make your way to El Turco, the charming and exceptional restaurant now open in the Miami Design District. Recognized with the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for four straight years, El Turco has brought its award-winning cuisine to a stylish setting where you can relax amid white bistro chairs with blue accents, beneath a ceiling draped with pink flowers and greenery. El Turco is as inviting as it is refined, and that's by design.
"We wanted to create a place where guests could truly feel Türkiye — not just through the flavors, but in the design, the ambiance, the spirit," says co-founder Gokhan Yuzbasioglu, who opened El Turco with his wife Nurdan in 2021.
The menu celebrates home-style Turkish cooking, presenting cherished family recipes with sophistication. The kavurma braised beef arrives with baldo rice, mirroring the original location's signature dish. Patlıcan dolma (stuffed eggplant) presents a traditional blend of rice, herbs, and spices that transports diners straight to Istanbul. Kofte kebab—perfectly seasoned beef meatballs atop crispy pita—remains a must-try menu fixture. For a taste of Turkish street food, the wet burger offers steamed fresh mini buns with potato soaked in tomato garlic sauce that outshines any American fast food experience.
Health-conscious guests can select the protein bowl featuring kavurma, kisir (bulgur salad), hummus, and sarma (stuffed grape leaves). Those seeking plant-based options will appreciate the vegetarian bowl with kopoğlu (eggplant dip), cacik (yogurt with cucumber), and other meat-free selections. Don't miss their famous baklava—those delicate layers of phyllo packed with pistachios or walnuts that have become a Miami favorite.
Design is central at El Turco, with Turkish inspiration evident in every detail. It's Ottoman tradition meets Miami sunshine. Blue-and-white patterned walls stand alongside woven pendant lamps, and floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the space in natural light. The cozier footprint of this location creates an atmosphere that feels intimate yet open. The team has created a setting that's both transporting and comfortable, making diners feel they've stepped into a modern interpretation of Turkish hospitality.
The Miami Design District location marks El Turco's second spot in the city, with the original in Upper Buena Vista. El Turco Design District is located at 140 NE 39th St Unit 238, across from Baccarat on the second floor of Palm Court.
