
4125 San Pablo Avenue, Emeryville, CA
The owners are Muslim and have confirmed its halal status.. From the management: 'Sells kofte and chicken. Ground beef is purchased with a halal certificate from Harris Ranch. Chicken is zabihah, purchased from Crescent.'
I grew up in Gallipoli in Turkey and came to the United States for a PhD. After graduation in religious studies, I decided to pursue my passion of baking and cooking. I founded Simurgh Bakery in 2017 to introduce traditional baked goods and food common to the cultural landscape of the Near and the Middle East. We make our own fresh phyllo dough for baklava and boureks/savory filled phyllo pies. Our signature product is pistachio baklava filled with emerald color Antep pistachios. Boureks, hand-rolled grape leaves, stuffed sun-dried eggplants, and gluten-free almond cookies are other favorites of our company.
4125 San Pablo Avenue, Emeryville, CA
WOW!! Favorite place! So fresh, breads to die for. Maybe best omelette I've had in a decade. Outside tables so relaxing. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!
The food here is consistently excellent and sets a high bar, making it a standout. The staff is generally great, and the person taking orders is especially welcoming, offers great suggestions, and is always courteous. That said, the ordering counter can get pretty crammed, which makes the experience feel a bit chaotic during busy times. It would also help if the service staff were more attentive so customers don’t have to wait in line just to ask a quick question. A little more organization and attentiveness would go a long way in improving the overall experience.
This place is a gem! The Balkan kebab and Istanbul platter were absolutely delicious! The bread is so fresh and light and the kebab is so juicy and tasty. The Lahmacun was so good too. We also had the original baklava and honey cake. Baklava is so crisp, not too sugary with perfect amount of pistachios. If you’re a baklava person you would know! The honey cake was too good to be true! Great coffee too. Everyone is extremely nice. Portions and prices are great. Must try and you’ll get hooked!
Delicious and filling breakfast with cucumber, plenty of cheese, eggs, simit and pastırma. Bal kaymak (honey & clotted cream) tasted incredible . Next time I'll share it between 2 people. Great tea & Turkish coffee. Best Turkish delight candies I've ever had (including in Turkey!) because the rose flavor was subtle and natural--not syrupy sweet nor artificial tasting. Beautiful enough to be a gift. Börek was also tasty. I also took home day-old bread (on sale) and it was delicious for my breakfast today. I can't wait to go back and try other items from the menu. Nice staff and overall wonderful place.
Simurgh Bakery & Café is an absolute gem! From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the warmest smiles and an inviting atmosphere. Their selection of Turkish pastries and delights is vast, and everything is made with love and authenticity. The fresh daily simit is a must-try—perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside, with just a generous amount of sesame crunch. The sabich sandwich was a delightful surprise, with fried eggplant, boiled egg, and a harmony of flavors that made every bite irresistible. And the dolma from eggplants—stuffed with fragrant rice—had an incredible balance of savory and sweet, making it one of the best I've had. Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a cozy place to enjoy Turkish tea, or a feast of traditional flavors, Simurgh Bakery & Café delivers in every way. Don’t miss this spot—it’s a true taste of Turkey with hospitality to match!
I saw this restaurant on social media and I was looking forward to trying their food. I had cigkofte and lahmacun. Unfortunately both were the worst versions that I’ve ever had. They were not original Turkish recipes and had taste issues. I really disappointed. Service also was not good. They didn’t bring enough fork, napkin etc. We were 2 people but we had only 1 napkin and 1 fork.
Not one to leave negative reviews but I feel I had no choice. I placed an order for 50 baklava and ran into a bunch of issues. I called the day prior to pick up in the morning to place the order and was quoted $50. They called me back and said they mis quoted and said it would be $60. Then they called again and said it would actually be $90. When I asked about the discrepancy, they told me the owner would call me back. They never did. After 5-6 calls, it was late in the day at this point and I just wanted confirmation of price. I called back again to see when the owner would call and was assured that they would get back to me. Never happened. Since I had no choice because it was so late in the day I told them to move forward with preparing the order which I thought would be fresh baklava. Price was not clear. I got there to pick it up the next morning and watched as they packed half of the tray with pastries from the previous day. They ended up charging me $96. It was honestly a really disappointing experience. I enjoyed eating the food here but this experience was unprofessional and left a sour taste in my mouth.
An incredible hidden gem! This Turkish-Balkan fusion spot offers a delightful touch of homemade charm. With everything made from scratch and a beautifully designed interior, it’s an experience not to miss. I especially recommend trying the Beef Brisket Patty—it’s absolutely amazing!