There are three things you need to know when talking about börek: phyllo dough, cheese and butter. The Turkish pastry has all three in spades, plus other additions like meat, spinach and potato depending on where you visit. Like many foods coming from the area of the former Ottoman Empire, there are similar versions of this flaky treat all over the region—like Greek spanakopita, for example.
Given Istanbul's importance in that time in history, it's not surprising that there are even many subsets of börek in Turkey alone, including some where the interior dough is boiled (su börek) or some shaped like cigars (sigara börek).
Below, a few places that offer exemplary versions of the delicious treat in many of its different forms.
SIMIT SARAYI: This chain offers several different types of börek, all available for perusal in glass cases before making the final commitment. There are lovely gul börek, rolled into floral shapes with spicy fillings; sigara börek rolled with meats, cheeses and potatoes and topped with sesame seeds; and squares of sul börek layered with feta. As the name suggests, they also offer a plethora of simits, including one stuffed with a burger.
435 5th Avenue, (212) 683-4100; website
GULLUOGLU BAKLAVA You can really hit the "boregi" jackpot at this trio of Turkish bakeries that offer dozens of different types of pastries in both savory and sweet iterations. The gul boregi ($3.50) come stuffed with spinach, cheese or potato, with a crispier outer crust than the su versions plus a scattering of black sesame seeds. The su boregi here are dense and filled with creamy cheese or spinach, with a flaky topping achieved with lots of layers of butter. They offer both of these treats individually portioned or in large trays to go.
Gulluoglu Baklava has locations in Midtown East, Astoria and Brighton Beach
TURKISH GRILL White tablecloths don't exempt fried foods from a menu, case in point this Sunnyside Turkish spot that offers a fantastic rendition of sigara börek, the cigar-shaped version of the flaky treat. The phyllo rolls are filled with feta cheese and fresh herbs, then deep fried until piping hot and ready to erupt molten cheese into your mouth. Take a minute before ingestion, as a trip to the hospital would mean less börek ingestion.
Turkish Grill is located at 42-03 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, (718) 392-3838; website
OPERA CAFE & LOUNGE This Sheepshead Bay restaurant boasts it's the largest Mediterranean Turkish restaurant in Brooklyn and judging by their menu, they may be right. You can get rose-shaped gul börek stuffed with minced meat as well as sigara börek stuffed with cheese and parsley. But if they have it when you visit, go for the quesadilla-like börek stuffed with feta cheese served with a side of spiced, strained yogurt for dipping.
Opera Cafe & Lounge is located at 2255 Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, (718) 676-2992; website
AGORA This Upper East Side haunt is one of the more formal places you can enjoy this humble Turkish pastry, where they offer the whole placemat, dim lighting deal. Here you'll find their version of börek, dubbed the "Chef's Special," and it's got a phyllo burrito-kinda thing going on. The crunchy roll comes filled with goat cheese and is served over a ladle of tomato marmalade for a bit of tart to all the richness.
Agora is located at 1565 2nd Avenue, (212) 717-1220; website
