Saray restaurant, an authentic Turkish experience at V&A

10 must-try dishes from kunafa to the sizzling sote

Last updated: Thursday, 10 July 2025

Saray means “palace” in Turkish, a fitting name for an eatery that beckons you inside with a ruby carpet. Mosaic lamps illuminate the walls in vibrant shades of turquoise, emerald and jade, while in the open kitchen, Middle Eastern chefs prepare dishes like nazik and tavuk sote. These are two of the must-tries at Saray, along with eight more below. 

Every dish at Saray is made using traditional spices from Turkey. Image: Saray

1. SIZZLING SOTE 

“This is comfort food you’d find in any Turkish home,” says manager Hussein Al Mohammad. It’s a slow-cooked stew that comes in meat, chicken, prawns, and vegetarian options, cooked in tomato, seasonal vegetables, chilli, topped with cheese, and served sizzling hot in clay pots with rice and bread. 

Saray’s food presentation will wow you. Image: Saray

2. SARAY NAZIK 

Another must-try main is the nazik, which has a key ingredient of smoked aubergine puree. “Every city in Turkey prepares it differently, but we mix ours with spices and cheese," explains Hussein. “It’s then topped with soft beef or chicken.” 

Nazik is a popular dish made with smoked aubergine. Image: Saray

3. BESTSELLER, DANA SASLIK  

This is “one of our bestsellers because the portion is generous and every slice is folded by hand.” It’s thinly sliced beef fillet marinated overnight and flash-grilled. 

Their meat and grills are cooked on charcoal grills for that smokey taste. Image: Saray

4. BOREGI 

The boregi is also a bestseller. It’s a traditional Turkish starter, great for sharing. “The light and crispy pastry is filled with Danish cheese and our special secret ingredient so it melts in your mouth.” 

Boregi is a traditional Turkish starter, perfect for sharing. Image: Saray

5. FRESHLY BAKED TURKISH PIZZA 

Pide is sometimes referred to as Turkish pizza. It’s a flatbread filled with cheese, beef, chicken, or spinach. “In Turkey this is a very common starter and is often used to break the fast during Ramadan.”

Saray’s menu has meals for meat lovers and vegans. Image: Saray

6. CLASSIC BAKLAVA 

“What makes our baklava special is the pistachios. We import them from Gaziantep in Turkey, where they’re known for their rich green colour and flavour,” he says. They even have chocolate baklava and a creamy cold baklava soaked in milk.

The silent star of the baklava is the pistachios. Image: Saray

7. KUNAFA 

If you want something truly unique, try the kunafa. “It’s made fresh to order with shredded pastry, homemade cheese, and baked until golden. The shredded pastry is an ingredient used in the famous Dubai chocolate.” 

Kunafa has shredded pastry, an ingredient used in the iconic Dubai chocolate. Image: Saray

8. TRADITIONAL TEAS 

“We use real chai leaves imported from Turkey, and it’s pure with no added flavours, just the original taste of Turkish chai.” 

If you prefer something fruitier, try the apple or pomegranate tea. “The apple tea is made from real apples and doesn’t need sugar at all,” Hussein explains. “It has a beautiful, fresh green apple taste.” 

Their apple and pomegranate teas are naturally sweet. Image: Saray

9. CINNAMON SAHLEP 

Sahlep is a creamy cinnamon milk drink. The key ingredient is sahlep powder, made from the dried, powdered roots of wild orchids. “People grab this on their way to work, especially in winter. Street vendors sell it across Turkey.” 

Sahlep is a warm, creamy, cinnamon-topped milk drink.  Image: Saray

10. CAPPUCCINO & MILK SHISHA

Saray’s shisha flavours come straight from Al-Fakhr in the United Arab Emirates, known for their rich, authentic taste. There’s unique flavours like cappuccino, where they use milk instead of water, which makes it smooth and creamy. 

Or for a refreshing flavour, try the lemon and mint, and blueberry and mint. “We can also mix flavours to create whatever combos you’d like.”

There’s an outside seating area for shisha. Image: Saray

VISIT SARAY

Saray Restaurant is open: Monday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 11am to 12pm; Sunday, 11am to 11pm
Find them: Shop G04 Clock Tower Building | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town
Book via: 0066 430 3391; 021 0011 033; sarayreservations@gmail.com, @saray_restaurant_ct

By Saarah Gierdien

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Our top picks for halaal restaurants in Cape Town.

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