Turkey's Iconic Dessert Shop MADO: Over 300 Branches Nationwide!

When visiting Turkey 🇹🇷, one restaurant you must try is MADO. MADO is a traditional Turkish dessert restaurant famous for its variety of traditional sweets and ice cream. It was founded in 1850 by Yasar Kanbur and originated in the Kayseri region of Turkey. Over the course of more than 300 years, MADO has grown into a chain with over 300 branches across Turkey. Not only is it popular among locals, but it’s also a favorite among tourists. Here, you can sample a wide range of local desserts all in one place. 😍 Plus, with many branches located in popular tourist areas, you can easily stop by after sightseeing to relax with a cup of Turkish tea and a piece of dessert. ☕️ We visited the branch on Istiklal Street. Two must-try desserts are Baklava and Kunefe with Cheese. Baklava is a famous local dessert made with multiple layers of pastry and nuts, then drizzled with honey or syrup. While we enjoyed trying it, I must say Turkish people have a very sweet tooth! The sweetness level is far beyond what most tourists are used to—it feels like the entire pastry is soaked in syrup. One bite requires a whole cup of tea to balance it out. It’s definitely worth trying once for the experience, but that’s probably enough! 😅 On the other hand, the Kunefe with Cheese we picked based on its appearance turned out to be surprisingly bland. Its outer layer is crispy fried noodles encasing soft cheese. Cutting into it, you can hear the crunchiness. 😍 However, once you taste it, you realize it lacks flavor—neither salty nor sweet. 🤣🤣 It’s quite puzzling! That said, both desserts are served with ice cream, which complements them perfectly. Their ice cream is unique, made from goat’s milk 🐑. It has a slightly chewy texture similar to Italian gelato and boasts a rich, aromatic flavor. In addition to dine-in options, the shop also sells handmade Turkish delights that make great souvenirs. If you’re interested, give them a try! 📍Asmalı Mescit Mah İstiklal Cad, Asmalı Mescit, Gönül Sk. No:1, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey