Experience a slice of Turkey right here in the heart of Canberra at Harem Turkish. Nestled among the treetops of Green Square in Kingston, the restaurant is considered a true Canberra institution with its original, simple and authentic home cooking a major contributor to its longevity to stand the test of time – 25 years in fact.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary Harem Turkish will be holding two special events.

May 27 will see the restaurant host a special 25th anniversary set menu for $39 per person, which includes:

Entrees

Humus, beetroot, patber, cucumber dips with Turkish bread
Zucchini ball
Cheese roll
Sarma, (vine leaves, herbs aromatic rice)
Sucuk sautéed

Mains
Sis tavuk (chicken breast, grilled)
Bursa kebab (sliced lamb, tomato and yoghurt sauce)
Harem pide

Dessert
Irmik helva (semolina, walnut)

Guests will also be treated to a feast for the senses with a special Turkish belly dancing show during their dining experience.

The second event, held on June 22, is a five-course wine matched degustation dinner in partnership with Pankhurst Wines Canberra District. Cost is $75 per person and includes:

Eggplant, patber, humus, beetroot dips with Turkish bread alongside a Sparkling from Pankhurst Wines Canberra District.

Zucchini and cauliflower fritters, mildly spiced grilled chicken breast with a Chardonnay from Pankhurst Wines Canberra District.
Grilled lamb and bulgur pilaf, vegetable-grated salad dressed with apple cider vinegar, olive oil and lemon served with a Pinot Noir from Pankhurst Wines Canberra District.

Pastirma and diced vegetables baked in foil with Turkish red Kalecik Karasi, Sevilen, Aydin.

Asure and ice cream alongside a Semillon dessert style wine from Pankhurst Wines Canberra District.

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Owners Sehnaz & Sinan has been at the helm Harem Turkish for the last 15 years and says that the restaurant prides itself on only using the freshest produce and premium cuts of meat, sourced farms and butchers local to the Canberra region.

The food is traditional home style cooking derived from Sinan and his wife’s family recipes that have been passed down through the generations.

“Our customers travel to Turkey often to visit family or go on a holiday and when they come back they say our food is so similar, or our food is even better!” Sinan laughs.

“I tell them, “Well you must be going to all the wrong places in Turkey!”

Harem Turkish offers a lunch, dinner and takeaway menu, as well as three set banquet menus to choose from for large parties and functions. The restaurant is also now serving an express lunch banquet for $19 between Tuesday and Friday – perfect for office workers who are after a delicious meal conveniently within their lunch break.

“We also play Turkish traditional folk music that comes from the different regions of Turkey, just like our food,” he says.

Named after the famous Imperial Harem of the Ottoman Sultan, the restaurant is guaranteed to provide an exotic and memorable experience.

“We have a really rich culture and I just want to share that with the people of Canberra. We are proud of our culture, we want to show that and represent our country,” Sinan says.

“I love seeing people leave here happy and with smiles on their faces.”

And take our word for it, with Sinan and his wife’s generous and loving nature, you will definitely leave feeling well fed!