Restaurant in Bornova, Turkey
Street-level kokorec, no reservations needed.
Kokorecci Asim Usta in Bornova is a neighbourhood specialist for kokorec, the spiced grilled offal dish that is one of Turkey's most satisfying street foods. Walk-in friendly and priced low, it suits solo diners, groups, and anyone building an Izmir food itinerary who wants a direct, no-frills introduction to a local staple done with genuine consistency.
Kokorecci Asim Usta is one address in Bornova that first-timers to Turkish street food should know. Kokorec — spiced lamb intestines grilled on a rotating spit, chopped to order and served in bread — is not a dish that rewards timid execution, and a specialist spot with a name built on reputation is exactly where you want to eat it for the first time. The address on Burak Reis Caddesi in Bornova puts it in reach of central Izmir without requiring a trip into the more tourist-dense parts of the city. Booking difficulty is low: this is the kind of operation you walk into rather than plan weeks around.
Walk up and you will see the spit before you smell it. The visual anchor of any kokorec counter is the rotating mass of seasoned offal, charring at the edges, being chopped on a flat iron surface into the bread that holds it together. For a first-timer, the process is part of the experience: you watch, you point, and you get your portion. Expect a compact, no-frills space where the food is the entire point. Service at this category of venue is direct and efficient by design , there is no tasting menu format, no sommelier, no tableside theatre beyond the chopping itself. That is not a shortcoming; it is the format. The service philosophy here is speed and consistency, which is exactly what earns loyalty at a neighbourhood specialist.
Price point is low relative to almost anything else you could eat in Izmir, which means the value-for-money calculation is simple: you are paying for technique and repetition, not ambiance or staffing depth. Solo diners are well served , counter or quick-table seating suits one person as well as a group. For groups, the format scales easily since ordering is direct and portions are typically customisable by size. This is not the venue for a special occasion dinner, but for an afternoon or late-night stop after exploring Bornova, it is a direct answer to hunger with a dish that has serious local credibility behind it.
If you are building an Izmir itinerary and want context for where this fits, our full Bornova restaurants guide covers the broader dining picture, and Narımor in Izmir is worth considering if you want a sit-down alternative with more formal service. For hotels and bars nearby, see our Bornova hotels guide and our Bornova bars guide. Those planning wider Aegean or Turkish travel may also find value in Maçakızı in Bodrum, Mezegi in Fethiye, or Ahãma in Göcek for Aegean coastal dining at a higher price tier. For Cappadocia, Nahita Cappadocia in Nevsehir and Aravan Evi in Ürgüp are solid choices. Broader exploration across Turkey is mapped in our Bornova experiences guide and Bornova wineries guide.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokorecci Asim Usta | — | ||
| Turk Fatih Tutak | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Maçakızı | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Mikla | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Neolokal | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ₺₺₺₺ | — |
| Vino Locale | Michelin 1 Star | ₺₺₺ | — |
How Kokorecci Asim Usta stacks up against the competition.
Kokorec is the dish here, full stop. It is lamb offal grilled on a rotating spit, so it is not suitable for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone avoiding offal or lamb. If dietary flexibility matters, this is the wrong counter to queue at.
For kokorec specifically, Bornova has a handful of competing counters along its main streets, though Asim Usta's address on Burak Reis Caddesi is consistently cited by locals. If you want a full sit-down meal rather than a spit-grilled sandwich, you are looking at a different category of venue altogether in central Izmir.
Street kokorec counters are not group-booking venues. You queue, you order, you eat standing or find nearby seating. Groups of any size can pass through, but expect to order individually and move at the counter's pace rather than be seated together.
Yes, this is an ideal solo stop. Walk-up ordering, no reservation, no minimum spend, and the format is built around single servings off the spit. It is a practical, low-friction way to eat well in Bornova on your own schedule.
Not in any conventional sense. There is no ambience, table service, or occasion framing here. If the occasion is eating genuinely good kokorec in Izmir, it qualifies. For a celebratory dinner, look to Mikla or Neolokal in Istanbul, or a full-service restaurant in central Izmir instead.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
