Restaurant in Izmir, Turkey
Back-to-back Bib Gourmand. Book it.
LA Mahzen holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition (2024 and 2025) and sits at a ₺ price tier — one of the clearest value propositions in the Izmir dining scene. Chef Jany Gleize leads an International kitchen in Torbalı, southeast of the city. Book for a special occasion where the cooking matters more than the postcode.
Yes — and for most diners visiting the Torbalı district southeast of Izmir, it should be the first name on the list. LA Mahzen holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition (2024 and 2025), which in practical terms means Michelin's inspectors found food quality that punches above the price point, two years running. At a ₺ price tier, that combination is genuinely rare in the Aegean region.
The Bib Gourmand designation is worth unpacking for anyone unfamiliar with it: Michelin awards it specifically to restaurants offering good cooking at a moderate price. It is not a consolation prize for venues that didn't earn a star — it is a separate, deliberate category that rewards value. For a special occasion where you want culinary seriousness without a high-end price tag, that credential matters.
LA Mahzen sits at the edge of Izmir in Torbalı, a working district far removed from the seafront promenade dining of Kordon. The address , Yazıbaşı sokak, Kuşçuburun , places it in an area that most visitors would not stumble across without intent. That distance from the tourist circuit is partly what makes the price tier possible, and partly what gives the room a local, unselfconscious feel rather than the polished performance of a venue built for Instagram audiences.
Chef Jany Gleize leads the kitchen, bringing an international perspective to the menu. The cuisine is listed as International, which in the context of a Bib Gourmand venue in Turkey's Aegean hinterland suggests a cooking approach that draws on European techniques and broader influences rather than anchoring strictly to regional Aegean or Turkish traditions. If you are coming specifically for meze and grilled fish in the local style, Narımor or Adil Müftüoğlu will serve you better. LA Mahzen rewards diners who want something outside that format.
Google reviewers back the Michelin verdict: 4.5 stars from 616 reviews is a strong signal of consistency, not a fluke of timing. High review counts at that score tend to reflect a kitchen that delivers reliably across different days and services, not just on inspection nights.
For a special occasion, the value equation is particularly strong. You are getting Michelin-recognised cooking at a price point that would barely cover drinks at many Izmir competitors. The trade-off is location: getting here requires a deliberate trip rather than a casual detour, and the setting is not the kind of waterfront address that photographs well on a venue card. What you are paying for is the food.
See the full comparison section below for peer venues across Izmir and the wider Aegean.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which is consistent with a venue outside the city centre with no walk-in queue culture built around it. That said, Michelin recognition in 2024 and again in 2025 will have brought new attention, so booking a day or two ahead for weekends is sensible rather than showing up unannounced. Weekday bookings are likely available with shorter notice.
No website or phone number is currently listed in our database for LA Mahzen. The most reliable approach is to search for the venue directly on Google Maps, where a contact number may be available, or to ask your hotel concierge to call ahead. If you are visiting from outside Izmir, confirm your reservation before travelling to Torbalı.
Hours are not confirmed in our database , check before you go, particularly if planning a lunch visit, as some venues in this category operate dinner-only or have irregular lunch service.
| Venue | Price tier | Cuisine | Michelin | Booking ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Mahzen | ₺ | International | Bib Gourmand ×2 | Easy |
| OD Urla | ₺₺₺ | Farm to Table, Creative French | , | Moderate |
| Teruar Urla | ₺₺₺₺ | Mediterranean | , | Harder |
| Vino Locale | ₺₺₺ | Country cooking | , | Moderate |
| Adil Müftüoğlu | ₺ | Turkish | , | Easy |
If you are building an itinerary around the Aegean and want to compare dining options by region, our full Izmir restaurants guide covers the category. For where to stay, see our Izmir hotels guide. We also cover bars, wineries, and experiences across the region.
For Michelin-level dining elsewhere in Turkey, Turk Fatih Tutak in Istanbul operates at the starred end of the spectrum. For Aegean coastal dining, Maçakızı in Bodrum is the reference point for setting-driven meals. For value-led cooking with regional character, Agora Pansiyon in Milas and Aravan Evi in Ürgüp follow a similar philosophy to LA Mahzen. For international cooking recognised at a similar tier, Loumi in Berlin and Ahãma in Göcek are useful reference points. Southern Turkey's value-led dining tradition is also well represented at 7 Mehmet in Antalya and Haubentaucher in Rottach-Egern offers a European parallel for the casual-excellence format.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Mahzen | ₺ | Easy | — |
| OD Urla | ₺₺₺ | Unknown | — |
| Teruar Urla | ₺₺₺₺ | Unknown | — |
| Vino Locale | ₺₺₺ | Unknown | — |
| Adil Müftüoğlu | ₺ | Unknown | — |
| Aslında Meyhane | ₺₺ | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Book at least a few days in advance to be safe, though the venue's booking difficulty is rated Easy given its location outside central Izmir in Torbalı. That said, a back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024 and 2025) generates real demand, so don't assume a table is always available on the day. Weekends carry more risk than weekday lunches.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available venue data, so this is worth confirming directly when you book. What is confirmed: LA Mahzen is a full-service restaurant with an international menu under chef Jany Gleize, not a bar-first format — so your visit should be planned around a table booking rather than a casual drop-in.
Yes, clearly. LA Mahzen sits in the lowest Turkish lira price bracket (₺), and it holds Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in both 2024 and 2025 — the Michelin award designed specifically for venues offering good cooking at moderate prices. For Izmir diners, this is one of the stronger value cases in the region.
No specific dietary policy is documented in the venue data, so check the venue's official channels before booking if restrictions are a factor. Chef Jany Gleize runs an international menu format, which typically allows more flexibility than tightly fixed tasting menus — but confirm specifics rather than assume.
Yes, especially if your group values Michelin-recognised cooking at low prices over a flashy setting. LA Mahzen's Bib Gourmand status makes it a credible choice for a celebratory meal without the cost pressure of a full Michelin star venue. The Torbalı location means it won't impress on arrival atmosphere alone, so pair expectations accordingly — this is a food-first booking.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
