One of the most famous dishes in Turkey, and one of the very few that is both street food and entirely vegan.

What is çiğ köfte?

Çiğ köfte comes from Şanlıurfa in the south-east, where it was historically made with raw meat — the name means “raw meatball”. Since raw-meat versions were restricted from commercial sale in Turkey in 2009, the meatless version has become the standard, and it is now sold on practically every high street in the country. Fine bulgur is kneaded with tomato and pepper paste, isot pepper, cumin and a long list of other spices — and kneaded is the operative word, sometimes for an hour, until the bulgur softens completely and the mixture turns dark red and pliable. It is eaten wrapped in lettuce leaves with lemon squeezed over it.

How we prepare it at Anatolia Grill

Ours is the vegan version: no meat at all. It is kneaded by hand until soft, spiced properly rather than timidly, and served with crisp lettuce leaves, fresh parsley and lemon wedges so you can wrap and dress each piece yourself. 199 CZK. It is genuinely spicy — that is not a flaw in the recipe.

Vegan Turkish spicy bulgur (Çiğ Köfte) on our menu

• Dish: Vegan Turkish spicy bulgur (Çiğ Köfte)
• Menu section: Appetizer
• Price: 199 CZK
• Allergens: A — see the allergen key printed on our menu

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat çiğ köfte in Prague?

At Anatolia Grill Restaurant, Na Poříčí 1933/36, Praha 1, daily from 08:00 to midnight.

Is çiğ köfte raw meat?

Ours is not. It is the modern vegan version made from fine bulgur wheat, tomato and pepper paste and spices, with no meat of any kind.

Is çiğ köfte vegan?

Yes, our version is fully vegan. It contains gluten from the bulgur wheat.

How do you eat it?

Take a lettuce leaf, add a piece of çiğ köfte and some parsley, squeeze lemon over it, wrap and eat with your hands.

Visit Anatolia Grill Restaurant

We are on Na Poříčí, a few minutes’ walk from Náměstí Republiky, in the centre of Prague. The kitchen is open every day from 08:00 to 00:00, so breakfast, a late lunch and a midnight plate are all on the table.

• Address: Na Poříčí 1933/36, 110 00 Praha 1 – Nové Město
• Open: every day, 08:00 – 00:00
• Restaurant: +420 777 946 662  |  Meat Market: +420 727 974 844

See the full Anatolia Grill menu, book a table by phone, visit the Anatolia Meat Market next door, or order online for delivery and pickup.