Belongs to Fatih district, Süleymaniye is a small and old neighborhood of Old City. Used to be Istanbul’s one of the most important science, education and commerce center, the neighborhood takes it name from the famous architect Sinan design, Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex. This architectural piece of art was built by Süleiman the Magnificent at 16th century. The neighborhood grew around this complex.

Right across the Süleymaniye Mosque, you can see a restaurant is full of locals and tourists almost every hour. Called Kuru Fasulyeci Erzincanlı Ali Baba, this family-run restaurant serves kuru fasülye (white beans) and pilav (rice) since 1938. Managed by 4th generation today, the restaurant hasn’t changed a single word of the traditional recipe.

The beans cooked at the restaurant comes from Erzincan. It is meat free so can also be tried by vegetarians. The dish comes with a cayenne in the middle and accompanies by pilav, salad and pickles. Kuru fasülye and pilav is a common dish cooked and loved all around Turkey but cheap and nutritious, Kuru Fasulyeci Erzincanlı Ali Baba makes the best out of it.