Our group of four really enjoyed learning to cook a traditional (and healthy) Turkish meal, and especially enjoyed eating the delicious food! Our hostess is a lively conversationalist and we appreciated her local perspectives and recommendations. She is a wonderful cook who is great at making her guests feel welcome and relaxed.
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paulaJ7979II
September 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A very pleasant evening of cooking and chatting
We had a wonderful experience with Gulsah. She welcomed us into her home and treated us like family. She showed us the typical simple meals that are common in Turkish households, and she shared stories about history and culture. It was a very relaxed time - no rush for us to leave.
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Sol_L
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Great conversation, food ok
The host was very kind and attentive, she wanted to reschedule and thankfully that was no issue for us. This is a nice plan if you want to meet locals and other people and have a nice conversation. She adapted the menu to our preferences. I would say the food was ok, it had very little protein and it was mostly rice and salad, so don't expect a culinary experience if you're a more experienced cook. Expect a nice chat and a refreshing activity. We didn't have any market tour as others said so I think it depends and may not always be included.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Sol! I am glad the conversation and connection with Gülşah made the experience enjoyable, and I appreciate that you were flexible with the rescheduling.
Regarding the menu — Home cooking experiences at LokalBond are centered around traditional home cooking rather than protein-focused meals, and this is reflected in the listing description.
On the market tour — this element was part of an earlier version of the experience but has since been removed, and both the description and price were updated accordingly at the time of your booking. I understand this may have created confusion if you came across older reviews mentioning the market visit, and I am sorry for that mismatch in expectations.
We hope to welcome you again!
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nastasiia_B
September 4, 2026 · via Viator
Great class!
The class was amazing, we absolutely loved it! Our host, Gülşah, is great! She told us about every dish and shared interesting stories about Turkey, Istanbul and local cuisine. Thank you very much, we will definitely cook some böreks at home after this class🌸
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samanr480
August 31, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful
Wonderful experience and delicious food. I am much more confident to try these amazing recipes when I go back, simply a lovely evening and experience
Gülşah was an amazing host! We could not have had a better experience. She made us feel at home, having tea together and discussing our menu. I love her passion for Turkish food and all the history she brought to the conversation. The meal was absolutely delicious. I love that she chose recipes that are very accessible, we can easily make and adapt them into our own home cooking. She has me loving eggplant, I didn't know I was prepping it wrong, she taught us the right way. We left so happy and extremely full. Do not hesitate to book this night of cooking with Gülşah - it is one of the best things we have experienced in Istanbul.
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Valerie_M
July 8, 2026 · via Viator
Enjoyable cultural food experience
Gulsah was great. She patiently guided us through cooking her multi-course meal. Food was delicious. My favorite was the yoghurt meatbal soup, really yummy. We are grateful that she invited us into her home and we really got a sense of life for a resident living in Istanbul. The walking tour of her neighborhood where she picked up her food daily was really enlightening. I definitely recommend this experience.
We visited her house on the cooking tour at the end of May. Perfect time to visit Turkey.
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Yuzaburo_I
June 13, 2026 · via Viator
このツアーでは、料理教室の前に、Osmanbey...
このツアーでは、料理教室の前に、Osmanbey MetroからErgenekon Street、Kurtuluş Streetを歩くシティツアーを楽しみました。トルコの朝食文化をはじめ、街歩きをしなければわからない市民の暮らしや日常について知ることができ、とても興味深かったです。
その後はホストのご自宅で、トルコの家庭料理を作りました。トルコの食卓に欠かせないレンズ豆のスープは優しい味わいで、食欲をさらに引き立ててくれました。ひき肉とジャガイモを使ったボレキ(börek)もとても美味しかったです。
料理だけでなく、トルコの文化や生活についても学べる素晴らしい体験でした。おすすめです。
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Before the cooking class, we enjoyed a walking city tour from Osmanbey Metro through Ergenekon Street and Kurtuluş Street. It was a great opportunity to learn about everyday life in Türkiye, including the culture of Turkish breakfast, which is something you would not fully understand without exploring the neighborhood on foot.
Afterward, we went to the host’s home and cooked traditional Turkish home-style dishes. The lentil soup, an essential part of Turkish dining, had a gentle and comforting flavor that stimulated the appetite. The börek filled with minced meat and potatoes was also delicious.
This experience offered much more than just cooking—it provided valuable insight into Turkish culture and daily life. Highly recommended!
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87yuri
May 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Best food of the trip!
It has experiences that cross the barrier of tourism and end up becoming almost a cultural exchange. It was a great pleasure to spend the afternoon with Gülşah at your house. No doubt, one of the great highlights of my trip.
Excellent speaker, I ended up losing my time. We prepared a full dinner with entry, salad and main dish, and honestly it was one of the most delicious meals I have tasted in Istanbul.
The way Gülşah conducts everything makes a lot of difference. There is affection, exchange and a genuine feeling of being living something truly local, and not just a cooking class.
I left there with cultural references, stories and memories that I will take with me. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to live a more human and special experience in the city.
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Bill C
May 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
An authentic neighborhood and home evening — cooking, conversing, eating
Gülşah was an excellent hostess and instructor. We were a small group, so had opportunities to get to know one another. The class was preceded by a stroll through Gülşah’s neighborhood with the occasional store-visit for a couple of ingredients. Gülşah described aspects of neighborhood living including the fact that lots of grocers, bakers etc are open for convenience-shopping at all hours of day and night. We proceeded to Gülşah’s apartment and all participated in cutting, peeling, chopping and cooking for soup, main course and dessert. Lots of fun and very tasty.